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26887 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Charles White was born around 1899 in Soho, London, the youngest of two sons of William and Harriet White. By 1901 the family had moved to Sudbury, his father was a retired police constable and the family lived at York Villas in Clarence Road.
Charles enlisted in Sudbury to serve with the Suffolk Regiment. The 11th Battalion formed part of 101st Brigade, 34th Division and landed in France at Boulogne in January 1916. Charles served alongside two Sudbury men who also lost their lives in 1918; Albert Bell and Percy Lock.
On 21 March 1918 the Germans launched their Spring Offensive. Operation Michael was a vast attack along the whole Somme sector front with the aim to destroy the British Army. The Germans advanced quickly and deeply with heavy losses for the Allies during March and April 1918.
The battalion saw action during the First Battle of the Somme 1918 at the Battle of St. Quentin (21 - 23 March). Charles died of wounds aged 19 on 27 March 1918 and lies buried in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France. A Cross of Remembrance was laid by his grave in March 2014.
Charles was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He is also remembered on the memorial in St. John’s Methodist Church, York Road.
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