petestarling Posted 17 January , 2012 Share Posted 17 January , 2012 In Oct/November 1914 Lt Arthur Martin-Leake VC RAMC was awarded a bar to his VC at Zonnebeke and reference to The White House has come up in 5 Field Ambulance War Diary but I can not find an exact site. There is nothing in the ADMS war Diary. Any ideas where it was? Thanks. Pete Starling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 17 January , 2012 Share Posted 17 January , 2012 Perhaps they were referring to the White Chateau, between Ieper and Zonnebeke? There was an Advanced Dressing Station in the chateau. Roel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Riley Posted 17 January , 2012 Share Posted 17 January , 2012 Pete, Might this be a reference to the White Chateau near Hellfire Corner, used as an advance HQ for I Corps in October 1914, although more Zillebeke than Zonnebeke Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Riley Posted 17 January , 2012 Share Posted 17 January , 2012 Pete, The Trench Map Atlas is giving a second contender in the Ypres area when searched for "White House" at H 24 c 1.0 which is about 1700 metres south of the Menin Road behind Observatory Ridge. I looked at two of the maps; there is a feature called Birdkin House near this reference (100 metres) but nothing actually marked as 'White House' The Gazeteer in Rat's Alley shows nothing for 'White House' Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyH Posted 17 January , 2012 Share Posted 17 January , 2012 Forum member Aurel Sercu will be the man to give you advice on this, he helped me enormously over a problem I had with the White Chateau in Hollebeke (there were two) You could PM him - or else hope he picks up on it by himself? Regards, BillyH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 17 January , 2012 Share Posted 17 January , 2012 Bill, Yes, I did pick it up, accidentally. :-) Pete, I'm afraid I can't help you. At least not directly. Just like Roel my first thought was : must be White Chateau, not White House. Roel said : between Ypres and Zonnebeke. Actually White Chateau (I don't mean the one in Hollebeke / Voormezele !) in the Menin Road, a little east of Ypres town, is far closer to Ypres than to Zonnebeke village. Hence my doubts. I happen to know that there is mention of a White House 1 km east of Langemark centre (halfway the Eekhoutmolenstraat), but that one is a lot closer to Langemark centre than to Zonnebeke centre. I don't have the trench map, but if someone else has : it is supposed to be on the map 20SE3 & 28N1 Poelcapelle, map square U24. And there is also a White house I found (but I don't have the map !) 2.5 km southeast of Ypres centre, but that is even farther from Zonnebeke ! (Map 28NW4 Ypres square H24.) And also one on the map Bixschoote. And even map Armentières etc. But those qualify even less. Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgardiner1418 Posted 17 January , 2012 Share Posted 17 January , 2012 Perhaps it was not named The White House but was referred to unofficially as the white house i.e. a house that was white and marked on maps by another official name (if it had one). All the best, Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 17 January , 2012 Share Posted 17 January , 2012 Could it have been next to White House cemetery and they did not have the exact location, so mentioned Zonnebeke? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 17 January , 2012 Share Posted 17 January , 2012 I also linked White House to White Chateau because the chateau was used as an ADS and the "white house" was mentioned in 5 Field Ambulance War Diary. Roel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Milner Posted 17 January , 2012 Share Posted 17 January , 2012 There is a White House on map 28 SW 4 U 24, due east of Langemarck. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petestarling Posted 18 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 18 January , 2012 John, Billy, Roel, Ian, Steve, Paul & Aurel Thank you all for your very useful suggestions. I will get the maps out and have another look using your suggestions. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantmal Posted 6 March , 2012 Share Posted 6 March , 2012 Pete, While trawling online found this German card which calls the 'Brickworks Villa' at Zonnebeke the 'Famous white House': Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantmal Posted 6 March , 2012 Share Posted 6 March , 2012 A version of the villa, purchased the other day: An aerial with the house (as far as I can tell) marked: Good on you, Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petestarling Posted 15 March , 2012 Author Share Posted 15 March , 2012 Grant Just picked this up. Thanks very much for the images. Hopefully I can now find the area. Best wishes, Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 15 March , 2012 Share Posted 15 March , 2012 Nothing there anymore I'm afraid Roel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantmal Posted 21 March , 2012 Share Posted 21 March , 2012 No worries, Pete, happy to have something to contribute. Does that square discolouration need some investigation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantmal Posted 21 March , 2012 Share Posted 21 March , 2012 Seems the White House had become a smudge on the landscape by September 1917: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petestarling Posted 22 March , 2012 Author Share Posted 22 March , 2012 Roel, Grant Thank you both very much. At least I can go to the approximate area of it. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertkellens Posted 28 March Share Posted 28 March An addition to this topic could be found on this website. With pictures before and during destruction of White House. https://wellcomecollection.org/works/bzbgqhv8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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