THE YOUNGEST OFFICER AT TRAFALGAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 13, 28 December 1911, Page 7

THE YOUNGEST OFFICER AT TRAFALGAR.

Frederic • Lea White, third son of William White, of Norwich, entered the Royal Navy as a first-class volunteer on September 3rd, 1805. He was then not quite 13, having been born on September 9th, 1792. There is little doubt that lie owed In's appointment to Nelson’s personal influence.. The popular naval hero was ever ready to help his old Norfolk friends, and William White had been the schoolmate of Horatio Nelson at North Walsham. It is possible and even likely that F. L. Wiiite was the youngest officer in the fleet. Young Frederic sailed ‘south in the Africa (64), Captain Henry Higby. During the night preceding Trafalgar this vessel lost touch with her consorts, and was endeavouring to rejoin them when the enemy’s fleet came in sight. Digby “hove overboard, to clear for action, 103 bags broad, 2 casks beef, 8 casks pork, 1 cask each oatmeal, suet, sugar, 10 butts, 7 puncheons, 12 bogheads, 10 lemon juice oases,” and at 11.40 — probably while Nelson was hoisting ids historic signal to the fleet—“engaged the foremost ship of the enemy’s line, a Spanish two-decker, hearing an Admiral’s flag,” and continued exchanging shots with “the whole of the enemy’s van lino” as the Africa rejoined the bulk of the British Fleet. How the Africa, at 1 p.m., “bore down to the assistance of the Neptune, engaging the Santissima Trinidad,” and took part in the capture of the Spanish leviathan has been duly recorded in Fitchett’s “Deeds that Won the Empire.” At 2.30 Captain Digby “observed V French two-decker making off, and made all sail after her.” This proved to be the Intrepide. At 3.15 the ships Were alongside of each other, and fought till 5, when the Orion came up to aid the Africa, and the gallant Frenchman hauled down his Hog—the last to yield on that -famous day. This warm sijc hours’ work has naturally resulted'' in grave injuries to the Africa. Her standing and running rigging was cut to pieces, all her boats disabled, her anchors shot away, and her masts so riddled that they finally all went overboard. She had 18 killed, and of her 40 wounded half died inside 24 hours. White had his thigh fractured; and, as will be noticed from Digby’s letter, was rated midshipman for his gallant conduct in his first fight. Tiie Africa made her way as best Uhe could, under jury masts and in tow of the Orion and Conqueror, to Gibraltar. She moored off “the Rock” on Novertiber 3rd, and White, nine seamen, and three marines were conveyed to the hospital. A copy of a letter from Captain Sir Henry Digby, R.N., to the Earl of St. Vincent:— Africa, Spithead, April, 1806. White, the lad you sent me, I rated midshipman for his conduct in action. His thigh was severely fractured, and it was thought more advisable to leave him at the hospital at Gibraltar than risk a dislocation. He is a fine youth, and is much beloved by his messmates. His friends have been written to; he will join the Beagle with my brother the moment he is able to embark.—Henry Digby. A month or so later the midshipman—still on crutches—left the hospital. Between 1805 and 1812 (although he never again fully recovered the free use of his limb) he managed to sec a good deal of active servidc, helping to ship Sir John Moore’s troops after Corunna, cruising round Corsica, operating against Suchet, etc. Ho was gazetted as lieutenant in 1812, but the subsequent close of the long war practically closed to him the doors of promotion. He only received commander’s rank in 1843, when he left the Navy. He died in 1859, and was buried in a Norwich churchyard, not far from his birthplace in the Castle Ditches. Though twice married, he left no issue. William White, his father, emigrated to the United States in 1806, taking with him the majority of Ids fourteen children, and it was from a memorandum in the possession of a distant descendant of a collateral branch that these scanty notes have been compiled.