Michael White
Bio
Michael White was born in Kettering, North Hampshire England in 1932. As a child growing up during the Second World War, he loved collecting the scrap metal from bombs dropped near his home town. He was conscripted into service at the age of eighteen and was assigned as a TARA, Technical Assistant Royal Artillery. Having read newspaper articles about the war in Korea, he had grave concerns about having to go there, though it was not long before he received his orders. He suffered the hardships of the front line and always looked forward to R&R so that he could bathe and get a good night’s sleep. Having returned to Korea on several occasions later in life, he was impressed to see the recovery the country had made with its infrastructure.
Video Clips
Miss Fires
Michael White describes frequent incidents of mortars miss firing. He explains how the ammunition was left over from the Second World War, with a great deal of it being faulty. He recalls how it would hurt the gunner's pride when the mortar fell short of its mark.
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South Koreans Help the British
Michael White talks about young South Korean men helping his mortar platoon by providing physical labor, digging weapon positions, and resupplying ammunition for the guns. He refers to them as mere school boys, noting they appeared to be so young.
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Rest and Relaxation
Michael White speaks about being on leave from the duties of the front line and how it was necessary in order to keep going. He describes the toll of sleep deprivation on the body, as well as the consequences of unclean living from lack of bathing, such as lice infestations. He recalls the importance of simple pleasures, such as sitting at a proper table to eat.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LQxQPVRz3M&start=2302&end=2628
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/michael-white#clip-3
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