Messages posted by: Gary Cootes

Hi Pete...once again thank you for your help. Much appreciated.

In response to my post a couple of months ago regarding Achnacarry I mentioned an old family friend, Bill White, late of 2 Cdo. Eric Buckmaster kindly informed us on a previous post that he recalled Bill being wounded at Salerno and Eric left him when posted back to 2 Cdo as Bill was suffering from malaria.
I'm just trying to find out if Bill did indeed returm back to 2 Cdo after Salerno and if also I can confirm that he was on the St Nazaire raid but was sunk on an ML on the way in and picked up by a further ML on the way out after being in the water for some time.

Any information would be greatfully received and a big thank you to the forum for previous help in relation to this subject.

Many thanks for the update Pete. Very kind of you. Will get the MiD sorted asap.

Many thanks. I'll get it sorted at the end of the week👍 Being a bit thick here...where is your e mail address? Sorry!

Hi Nick...I have tried to attche the MiD in jpeg and pdf but it keeps coming back saying 'entity to large'!

Hi Nick
I'll try and upload the actual MiD as well but I did have problems before however I'll try again. On the photo in Wellington Sq...Bill told me that was when they first got the green beret.
Many thanks for your help. I'll see what else I can dig out and get back to you.

Hi Nick
As you can see I have added some items of interest on here re Bill White. Previously he was not recorded as being on the St Nazaire raid. Is this still the case?

Bill White

Bill White

**From admin*** This photo was already in the gallery here: http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/2/bill+white+2+cdo+c.jpg.html

Bill White

Some more items on Bill 'Chalky' White

Guy and Pete
Many thanks for that. I'll dig out his MiD for you plus some info on how he received it from the Essex Regiment archives.
It may interest you and others to know that whilst trawling through old rugby team photos at my club there was one of Col Newham in his rugby attire. I managed to get a nice photo of him from the Essex Regiment museum and had it framed along with his St Nazaire VC citation and a miniature VC. It's always a much discussed photo when other teams visit.
I also read an interesting article about Col Newham that post war he took an interest in an Army cadet unit in Writtle in Essex and often visited them. He was also a keen boxer, as well as a rugby player,in his younger days.

Hi Nick.... thank you so much for that. Like many others he had a tough war so I am pleased that he should be remembered like this.
A fantastic website.....keep it going. And thank you to all those who took the time to reply to my Achnacary question......much appreciated.

Sorry Nick...more replies😃 I have Bill down as Sgt WL White, Essex Regiment no.6010917. The MiD was published in London Gazette on 20/12/40.
I asked for info on Bill back in 2012 and the 'forum Colonel' then replied and also included some remarks by Eric Buckmaster who knew. The post is dated 6/2/12. I also included a couple of photos which are still on the website.
Regards......

Nick....I just used your forum search and found 3 references to Bill White albeit all posted by me. However in one of them a veteran does know Bill and also mentions about him being wounded at Salerno etc