Award Military Medal Cpl. Charles James WHITE, 4th Bn The Buffs (Aegean)

Award Military Medal Cpl. Charles James White, 4th Bn The Buffs (6459504)

For gallantry in a counter attack against the German landing at Della Palma Bay; he was subsequently taken prisoner after the Buffs were surrounded by German paratroopers and remained in German hands until May 1945

In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field.’ The original recommendation submitted by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Douglas Iggulden states:

Enlisted into the Royal Fusiliers (T.A.) on 23 February 1937, and was embodied on 2 September 1939. He transferred to The Buffs on 11 October 1943. Following the Italian surrender on 3 September 1943, the islands of Kos, Leros and Samos in the Greek Isles were occupied by the British. The 4th Buffs, after losing 7 officers and 128 men when the destroyer Eclipse was mined and sank in 3 minutes, landed on Leros, with 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, B Coy 2nd R.W. Kents, together with L.R.D.G. and S.B.S. detachments. On 12 November 1943, the Germans retaliated, invading the island in considerable strength. Despite initial determined and successful opposition the Germans eventually swamped the defences with paratroops and, on 14 November, over 500 daylight sorties were flown by the Luftwaffe, destroying the A.A. defences. British attempts to both reinforce and later to evacuate failed, and Colonel Iggulden, Corporal White and most of the Buffs survivors were taken prisoner. White remained in German hands until 13 May 1945. He was transferred to Class Z Army Reserve in June 1946 and finally discharged in June 1959. He is also entitled to the Efficiency Medal, Territorial.

Name: Charles White.
Date of Birth: 23/02/1919.
Place of Birth: London.
Service: British Army.
Rank: [Corporal].
Regiment/Unit/Squadron: [The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)].
Service Number: [6459504].
Date of Capture: [unspecified].
Theatre of Capture: [unspecified].
Camp Name/Number: Stalag 398.
PoW number: 8465.
Date of Death: [unspecified].
Number of Photographs: 0.
Number of Fingerprints: 0.
Number of X-rays: 0.
Number of Cards: 1.
WO 416/388/48

 

Hi Brithm,
I hope you are fine.
Do you have any photo of Charles James White to share?
Thank you in advance.

Best,
Nikos