The inscription, that is identical on either side of the Portland stone
plinth, reads:
General Sir George Stewart White VC, GCB, GCSI, GCIE,
GCVO was born at Rock Castle, Portstewart, County Londonderry, son of James
White of Whitehall, Co. Antrim and Frances Ann Stewart. His mother was a
daughter of George Stewart, Surgeon-General to the British Forces in
Ireland, and his wife Frances, daughter of Colonel William Stewart M.P., of
Killymoon Castle, Co. Tyrone.
He was educated at Bromsgrove School, Worcestershire and later at King
William's College on the Isle of Man. From 1850 White attended the Royal
Military Academy at Sandhurst where he achieved the rank of Under
Officer.After graduating from Sandhurst, White was commissioned into the
27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot in 1853 and saw service in the Indian
Mutiny.
In the second Afghan War of 1879/80, he was awarded the Victoria Cross and
during 1880 and 1881 he served as Military Secretary to the Viceroy in
India. In 1885, he was assigned to special service in Egypt. The same year,
he became Brigadier-General in Madras. He became Commanding-Brigadier on the
Burmese expedition of 1885-6 and from 1886-89 he commanded the Upper Burma
Field Force. In 1889, he was promoted to Major-General and then
Commander-In-Chief West Indies. Between 1898-99, he served as Quarter Master
General Headquarters of Army.
In 1899, now promoted to Lieutenant-General, White commanded the Natal
Forces in South Africa and was confined in Ladysmith during the Siege. In
July 1900, he became Commander-In-Chief, Gibralter. In 1874 he married
Amelia Baly - the daughter of the Joseph Baly, Archdeacon of Calcutta. They
had 5 children. He was a famous son of the Gordon Highlanders and died on
24th June 1912.