Sir George White VC

George Stuart White was born in Portstewart, County Antrim on 6 July 1835 but the family lived in Broughshane for many years. He was educated at Sandhurst. He first achieved distinction in the Afghan War of 1878-80. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroism in the Battle of Charasia in India in 1879 and was knighted in 1886 for his military service in Burma. As commander in chief in India (1893-98), he was an instrument of Great Britain's "forward" policy of combating any Russian advance toward India by aggressive campaigns, military and diplomatic, in the borderlands. In 1879 he became secretary to the Viceroy of India. In the Boer War, from 1899 to 1900 he defended Ladysmith for one hundred and eighteen days. From 1900 to 1904 he served as Governor of Gibraltar and from 1904 to 1912 he was Governor of the Chelsea Hospital. He received the Order of Merit in 1905 and became a field-marshal. He died on 24 June 1912.

There is a memorial in the Broughshane churchyard.

Born:	6 July 1835
Died:	24 June 1912