Regiment: Royal Fusiliers 13th Battalion.
Service No: 61456
Date & place of birth: November 1878, Petworth
Date & place of death: 23 April 1917 (aged 38), France
Leon White was a married man with four children when he went to war.
Family background
Private Leon White was the son of James and Hannah White. James was a carter. Leon married Charlotte Kate Hampshire in 1899 and by 1901 was a coal deliverer living in Duncton with daughter Maud. In 1911 the family was at 321 High Street Petworth with Maud, Leon, Doris and James. There had been another child who had died. Leon was a general labourer.
Military service
Leon enlisted in Petworth into the Royal Sussex Regiment and then joined the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). However, his medal roll refers to the Royal West Kent as a previous regiment.
Death and commemoration
Leon was killed in action during the Arras offensive on 23 April 1917 aged 38. He is remembered on the Arras memorial and was awarded the Victory and British medals.
Subsequent family history
Son Leon lived to 80 and son James to 64.
A note on the medal roll dated 11 January 22 requests authority re disposal of medals.