WW1 Corporal Doy Llewellyn White 12/3869

Doy Llewellyn White was born in Nelson on 26 November 1895, the son of Alfred Henry and Alice Isabel White nee (Willmette), of 25 Aratonga Avenue, Epsom, Auckland. He had one brother Alfred and two sisters Ethel Riley and Isobel Morris. [1]

At enlistment on 19 October 1915 aged 19 years old he was a cleaner for New Zealand Railways. He joined the 9^th Reinforcements Auckland Infantry Battalion, 11^th Coy, 2^nd Battalion Wellington Regiment and embarked for overseas from Wellington on 8 Jan 1916 on the Maunganui to Suez, arriving on 8 February 1916.

On 4 January 1917 he was posted as Lance Corporal to the N Z Command Depot Codford for further fitness training and then transferred to 4^th N Z Infantry Brigade.  On 1 May 1917 he was promoted to be Corporal in the 2^nd Battalion Wellington Infantry Regiment but on 8.5.1917 he was re-admitted to the No. 3 N Z General Hospital at Codford. On 30 June1917 he was transferred to No.2 Area Employment Company as fit to do base duties but not to undertake general-service work. [3]

On 11 July 1917 he proceeded overseas as a Corporal to France with DEC Divisional Employment Company. In November he was classified “A” by the NZEF Travelling Medical Board as fit for duty but then in December 1917 as “C” Fit for home service only.

Doy was discharged as no longer physically fit for war service on 13 April 1918 and then embarked for New Zealand from Liverpool on the Tahiti as part of the No. 149 draft on 30.4.1918. [4] He died of tuberculosis in Auckland Military Hospital Annexe on 6 August 1919 and was buried at Purewa Cemetery, Block F, Row 43, Grave 137. [5]

Doy Llewellyn White is remembered on the Remuera Primary School memorial gates, Dromorne Rd, Remuera, Auckland.

His mother inserted the following in the Auckland Star:

ROLL OF HONOUR.

WHITE.—On August 6, 1919, at the Military Hospital. Auckland, Doy Llewellyn White, late 9th Reinforcements, N.Z.E.F. The deceased will be accorded a Military Funeral, which will leave the Mortuary of Watney Sibun, Undertaker, Newmarket, at 3.15 p.m., tomorrow, Thursday, August 7, 1919, for the Purewa Cemetery.

WHITE.—At the Auckland Annexe. August 6. 12/3569 Corporal D. L. White, 9th Reinforcements, beloved youngest son of Alice Isabel White and the late Veteran A. H. White, Aratonga Avenue. Epsom, brother of Captain A. T. White, M.C. 9th Reinforcements, and grandson of Thomas White, Inspector-General of Hospitals. Madras Army. India, severely wounded in the first Battle of the Somme, in his twenty-fourth year. [6]

WHITE.—-In fond remembrance of Corporal Doy Llewellyn White. 12/3869. Ninth Reinforcements who passed away at the Auckland Military Hospital, August 6, 1919, aged 24 years. –  Christ is coming again, and they that are in the grave shall hear His voice. —Inserted by his loving mother, sisters, and brother. [7]

RETURNING SOLDIERS. THREE BIG DRAFTS.

A TOTAL OF 2301 MEN TO ARRIVE THIS MONTH

The Defence Department advise that returning drafts Nos. 147. 148 and 149 will arrive at Row Zealand ports this month. DRAFT 147 TOTAL OF 750 MEN. DRAFT 148 TOTAL OF 733 NAMES. Returning Draft No. 148 comprises 733 officers, N.C.0/s, and men.  DRAFT 149 TOTAL OF 818 NAMES. Following is the complete roll of returning draft No. 149, which comprises in all 818 officers, N.C.O.’s and men:— Devereux, G. De B., 12/1199,1 Major. Auckland. Wray. W. G. (Military Cross), 7/1315. White, D. L., 12/3869 Corporal, Epsom. White. D. L., 12/3869. Wellington. [4]