James White was born on the 11th of February 1891 in Barlborough. His Father was Thomas White [born 1850] and his mother was Ellen Jane White [born 1863]. He had two older brothers, Thomas [born 1883] and Bruce [born 1890]. His Father, who was born at Wadsley in Yorkshire worked as an Engine Driver, and ran the Dusty Miller Inn in Barlborough. Unfortunately, James’s mother died whilst James was still very young. Aged 10 James went to board with George Wheat the Farm Bailiff, his wife Ann and his grown up daughters Annie and Ada. By age 20 James was living in Bolsover with his Aunt and Uncle James and Henrietta Dobbs and their children Fred, Avis and James Henry. James Dobbs was a coal miner at Oxcroft Colliery and James White worked as a labourer above ground at the mine. James then worked at Clipper Colliery before signing up for short service in the Navy.

James served first upon the Victory II in 1912, then went to the Venerable in November 1912. In 1914 James transferred to the Unity and then in 1916 he went to serve on the Greenwich (Opportune). In 1917 James returned to the Victory II, he then went onto HMS Birmingham and then the Woolwich. In March 1918 he was moved to the Wellington and then in July to the Leander and in October to the Victory I. In January 1919 James went to serve on the Blake (Vancouver) and then returned to the Greenwich in March 1919. In 1921 he served a last time on the Victory I. He was paid a war gratuity after the war.

James was described as 5ft 4, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. He had a scar in the centre of his forehead and on each side of his scalp and one on the back of his right hand. He also had a mole on the front of his chest.

A newspaper article heralded James’s return to Barlborough after the war. Sadly by this time James’s father had  passed away.