White was sent to India in 1854 and, having been promoted to lieutenant on 29 January 1855,[4] was stationed at Peshawar during the Indian Mutiny in 1857.[2] He was promoted to captain on 10 July 1863[5] and transferred to the 92nd Regiment of Foot on 4 August 1863.[6] He returned to England before being further promoted to major on 24 December 1863.[7] After five years in England he went back to India with his regiment in 1868.[7] He was given command of his battalion in 1875 and then fought at the Battle of Charasiab in October 1879 and at the Battle of Kandahar in September 1880 during the Second Anglo-Afghan War.[7]
Victoria Cross
He was 44 years old when the following deeds took place in Afghanistan for which he was awarded the VC:
For conspicuous bravery during the engagement at Charasiah on 6 October 1879, when, finding that the artillery and rifle fire failed to dislodge the enemy from a fortified hill which it was necessary to capture, Major White led an attack upon it in person. Advancing with two companies of his regiment; and climbing from one steep ledge to another, he came upon a body of the enemy, strongly posted, and outnumbering his force by about 8 to 1. His men being much exhausted, and immediate action being necessary, Major White took a rifle, and, going on by himself, shot the leader of the enemy. This act so intimidated the rest that they fled round the side of the hill, and the position was won.
Again, on 1 September 1880, at the battle of Candahar, Major White, in leading, the final charge, under a heavy fire from the enemy, who held a strong position and were supported by two guns, rode straight up to within a few yards of them, and seeing the guns, dashed forward and secured one, immediately after which the enemy retired.[8]
White became commander of the forces in Natal in September 1899[29] at the opening of the Second Boer War and fought at the Battle of Elandslaagte in October 1899.[30] He then withdrew to Ladysmith where he took command of the garrison during the siege of Ladysmith with his aide-de-campClive Dixon (later portraying the siege in watercolour): when his position there became untenable he was instructed by General Sir Redvers Buller to destroy the guns and surrender the garrison on the best terms he could. White responded "I hold Ladysmith for the Queen" and held out for another four months before the town was relieved in late February 1900. His health greatly reduced, White left the city in early March to recover in more peaceful parts of the colony, before he left Cape Town for the United Kingdom later the same month.[31] For his service in the war he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) later that year,[32] having earlier been made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in May 1900.[33]
In 1874 White married Amelia Maria Baly, daughter of the Venerable Joseph Baly, Archdeacon of Calcutta, with whom he had one son and four daughters.[7] James Robert (Jack) White, Rose Frances White, May Constance White (Currie), Amy Gladys Stuart White (Lady Napier) and Georgina Mary White. Lady White was invested as a Companion of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India (CI) by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 6 March 1900.[45] In the year after her husband's death their unoccupied house at Englefield Green was badly damaged by suffragette arsonists. Elsie Duval and Olive Beamish were the suspects.[46]
On a wreath of the colours a dexter arm embowed vambraced holding in the hand a sprig of three roses slipped seeded and leaved Proper and charged on the elbow with a four leaved shamrock slipped Gules.
Escutcheon
Per fess Argent and Gules in chief six roses three and three of the last barbed and seeded Proper and in base an eagle displayed Or.