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Lieutenant Colonel
DAVID ARCHIBALD PRICE-WHITE, T.D.
Royal Artillery (T.A.)

by
Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis
Ó 2004. All Rights Reserved.

1. INTRODUCTION

This research was begun after the acquisition by the author of a studio photograph of David Archibald Price-White, his father Price Foulkes White, and his son Andrew Stewart Price-White. The photograph was advertised as being of an officer of the Royal Engineers on the eBay auction web site. When it arrived, close examination indicated that the man in uniform (D.A. Price-White) was actually a major in the Royal Artillery. Three names were written in pencil on the reverse of the photograph identifying the individuals as indicated above. Based on the age of the young boy and D.A. Price-White's rank, the photograph was taken circa 1936, when Price-White apparently was serving as a Temporary Major.

My first inclination was to return the photograph to the seller, as the officer in the picture was not a Sapper as advertised and the Royal Engineers are my special area of interest. Before doing so I thought to check a volume of Who's Who to see if the major with the double-barreled name might be mentioned. Sure enough he was, and with details that promised to make for interesting research. The narrative that follows is the result of that research.

L. to R. - David Archibald Price-White
Andrew Stewart Price-White and
Price Foulkes White

2. EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY INFORMATION

The 1891 Census of Wales shows that David's father, Price Foulkes White was a 17-year old student at the time living with his mother Jane Foulkes White at 5 Pensallt Villa in Bangor, Carnarvonshire.[1] Jane Foulkes White[2] was a 44-year old widow and the head of the family. She was an independent woman who, according to the 1891 Census was "living on her own means." Besides her eldest son Price, Jane had two other sons, David (15 years old in 1891) and Elles (13 years old in 1891). Both boys are listed as "scholars" in the 1891 Census. All the boys had been born in Bangor and, like their mother, could speak both English and Welsh.

The census return shows that there were three visitors to the Foulkes White household at the time. These visitors included one Rosa M. Roberts of London, and Fanny Blake and Rosa E. Blake, both of Ireland. Each of these women was "living on her own means." Jane Foulkes White also had a domestic servant by the name of Lizzie Williams living in her home. Lizzie was a local Carnarvonshire girl who also could speak both English and Welsh.

Price Foulkes White married one Catherine Bell. Their son, David Archibald Price-White was born, probably in Bangor, on the 5th of September 1906. David attended Friars School in Bangor and later the University College of North Wales, where he studied law.[3]

3. CIVILIAN LIFE

David Archibald Price-White was admitted to the Bar as a Solicitor in 1932. In 1933 he began to practice as a Solicitor in his own firm known as Price White & Co., Bangor and Llandudno. In 1934 he married Gwyneth Harris, the daughter of James Lewis Harris of Carnarvon. Their son, Andrew Stewart Price, was born in 1936. The Price-Whites also had a daughter; however, her name was not uncovered during this research.[4]

During the years preceding World War 2, Price-White acted as Solicitor for the executors of wills of numerous deceased individuals from North Wales as a representative of the National Provincial Bank Chambers at Bangor.[5] He became a member of the Conservative Party and some time prior to the war he was elected a Member of Parliament for Carnarvon. On the 10th of August 1945, following his release from active military service, he returned to Parliament. This is verified by the entry in the London Gazette of 24 August 1945 (p. 4289), which reads as follows:-

Crown Office, House of Lords, S.W.1.

LIST OF MEMBERS RETURNED to Serve in PARLIAMENT at the General Election, 1945.
Districts of Boroughs of Carnarvon-
David Archibald Price White, Esq.

Price-White resumed his practice as a Solicitor with Price White & Co. in 1945. In 1950 he relinquished his seat in Parliament. At this time his residence was Netherwood, Bangor, Carnarvon.[6] In 1956 he ended his practice as a Solicitor with Price White & Co.[7] and took a position as Principal Assistant with the Central Electricity Generating Board, Midland Regions Headquarters.[8]

In 1963 Price-White was living at Oak Cottage in Samlesbury, Preston, Lancashire.[9] By 1968 he had left the Central Electricity Generating Board and was back in North Wales practicing as a Solicitor with Amphlett & Co. in Colwyn Bay. His address at that time was 49 Conway Road, Colwyn Bay N.[10]

In 1978 Price-White was again a Solicitor and Principal of the firm Price White & Co., Solicitor, Colwyn Bay. The firm apparently closed its offices in Bangor and Llandudno. It is not known whether this was simply a relocation of the law practice or the re-establishment of the firm after it have been inactive for a number of years. Price-White's address at this time was Dolanog, Pwllycrochan Avenue, Colwyn Bay.[11]

David Price-White listed cricket, rugby and golf as his recreations. He was a member of the Constitutional and Carlton Clubs as well as the Conservative (Bangor) Club and the Carnarvon and Anglesey County clubs.[12]

The Carlton Club, formed in 1832, is the most famous political clubs of modern times. For the first 50 years of the club's existence it fulfilled many of the functions of the Conservative Central Office. The Carlton Club's original house was located in Pall Mall. In October of 1940 the building was destroyed by German bombs and only by great good luck were Harold Macmillan, Quintin Hogg and other Conservative notables, who were in the club at the time, not killed. The new Carlton Club building was then located at 69 St. James's Street SW1.[13]

4. MILITARY SERVICE

David Archibald Price-White was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery (Territorial Army) in 1928. Upon commissioning he was assigned Army Number 41972.[14],[15] On the 17th of April 1932 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. At that time he was serving with 242 Battery of the 61st Carnarvon and Denbigh (Yeomanry), Medium Brigade, Royal Artillery (T.A.) and was stationed at Llandudno.[16]

On the 10th of February 1938, Price-White was promoted Captain.[17] He was serving with the Headquarters of the 61st Carnarvon and Denbigh (Yeomanry) at the Drill Hall in Colwyn Bay on the Irish Sea, 5 miles east-southeast of Llandudno. By this time the unit had been redesignated as a Medium Regiment. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Major on the 24th of July 1939, just prior to the start of World War 2.[18]

Major Price-White first saw active service during the war in France in 1940 with the British Expeditionary Force, where the 61st (Carnarvon and Denbigh) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery was part of the General Headquarters Troops of the BEF.[19] He later served in the Middle East, Sicily, Italy and East Africa.[20] In 1944 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.[21] Since his service papers were not available to the author at the time this narrative was prepared, the units in which he served in each theater of the war are not known.

The 61st (Carnarvon and Denbigh) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery formed part of the Western Command at Colwyn Bay in North Wales at the start of the war. The regiment went to France with the original BEF in October of 1939, so it seems likely that Price-White was with the unit at that time. In June of 1940 the regiment was with the Home Forces in the UK and in May of 1944 it was assigned to the 21st Army Group. By May of 1944 the regiment was serving in North West Europe. For Price-White to have served in the Middle East, Sicily, Italy and East Africa, it seems likely that he left the 61st Medium Regiment, R.A. for an assignment or assignments with some other formation after the evacuation from Dunkirk.

On the 12th of April 1945 the London Gazette announced the award of the Territorial Decoration to Price-White. The entry reads as follows:-

The KING has been graciously pleased to confer "The Efficiency Decoration" upon the following officer of the Territorial Army:-
Royal Artillery
Capt. (T/Maj.) D.A. Price-White (41972)

5. POSTSCRIPT

David Archibald Price-White's name does not appear in the 1983 Who's Who. It must therefore be assumed that he died prior to that year. A more accurate date of death has yet to be established.

REFERENCES

Books

1. BLAXLAND, G. Destination Dunkirk: The Story of Gort's Army. Military Book Society, London, 1973.

2. LEJEUNE, A. & LEWIS, M. The Gentlemen's Clubs of London. Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., London, 1978.

3. Kelly's Handbook, 1946.

4. Who's Who, 1950.

5. Who's Who, 1963.

6. Who's Who, 1965.

7. Who's Who, 1968-69.

8. Who's Who, 1974.

Periodicals

1. The London Gazette, 26 September 1939.

2. The London Gazette, 26 August 1945.

3. Supplement to the London Gazette, 12 April 1945.

4. Supplement to the London Gazette, 5 June 1945.

5. Monthly Army List, October 1935.

6. Monthly Army List, April 1938.

ENDNOTES

[1] The forms Carnarvon and Carnarvonshire rather than Caernarvon and Caernarvonshire are used throughout this narrative.

[2] Jane Foulkes White was born in Amlwch, Anglesey.

[3] Who's Who, 1950, p. 2271.

[4] Kelly's Handbook, 1946, p. 1572.

[5] The London Gazette, 26 September 1939, p. 6541, et. al.

[6] Who's Who, 1950, p. 2271.

[7] It is not known whether the firm of Price White and Co. was a one-man operation or whether David was a partner in the firm with his father or possibly with his brother(s). Apparently the firm was not dissolved in 1956 as he went back to it in 1974.

[8] Who's Who, 1963, p. 2469.

[9] Who's Who, 1965, p. 2477.

[10] Who's Who, 1968-69, p. 2478.

[11] Who's Who, 1974, p. 2654.

[12] Who's Who, 1963, p. 2469.

[13] LEJEUNE & LEWIS, p. 84.

[14] Who's Who, 1950, p. 2271.

[15] Supplement to the London Gazette, 12 April 1945, p. 1947.

[16] Monthly Army List, October 1935, p. 308c.

[17] Monthly Army List, April 1938, p. 308c.

[18] Supplement to the London Gazette, 5 June 1945, p. 2835.

[19] BLAXLAND, p. 389.

[20] Who's Who, 1950, p. 2271.

[21] Kelly's Handbook, 1946, p. 1572