Born near Reading in 1883, and recorded in the 1911 census as based at the Higher Barracks in Exeter, it's possible that George Thomas White's association with Exeter City initially came about following a military posting. Already noted as playing for the reserves in the Plymouth and District League around the time of the census, he was captain of the team by the 1913/14 season.

On the outbreak of war in August 1914, he was immediately sent to  France with the 1st Devons. It wasn’t long before he was involved in attempting to recapture Neuve Chapelle in the Pas-de-Calais region.

It was during this fighting, some of the heaviest of the early months of the war, that he was killed on 30 October 1914. In a sad twist of fate, fellow City amateur Fred Bailey was able to confirm George White’s death. Bailey, who would die in action at the Somme in 1916, was volunteering with the Royal Army Medical Corps and related how his wounded former teammate had ‘come into the hospital where he was on duty and passed away there’.

On 3 December 1914, the Western Times reported:

‘At one time he was captain of the Plymouth and District League team, and was very popular with all the players, professional and amateur. Of splendid physique, he was a most fruitful defender for the Club, and was always of a happy, genial disposition.’

George White is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, a memorial near the chapel inside the St Sidwell’s Community Centre and on a plaque at St James’ Park.

For more about George White’s playing career see his entry in the A to Z of Exeter City players section of the Archive