Archie Cecil Thomas White

Who was Archie Cecil Thomas White?

Colonel Archibald Cecil Thomas White VC MC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

White was 25 years old, and a temporary captain in the 6th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, later known as the Green Howards, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

During the period 21 September to 1 October 1916 at Stuff Redoubt, France, Captain White was in command of the troops which held the southern and western faces of a redoubt. For four days and nights by skilful disposition he held the position under heavy fire of all kinds and against several counterattacks. Although short of supplies and ammunition, his determination never wavered and when the enemy attacked in greatly superior numbers and had almost ejected our troops from the redoubt, he personally led a counter-attack which finally cleared the enemy out of the southern and western faces.

He later transferred to the Army Education Corps and achieved the rank of colonel. He wrote a history of the corps, published in 1963.