Stewart Alexander White was born in Herne Bay, Kent in 1886, the son of a licensed victualler.

He was educated at Oxford High School, and later at Oxford University where he gained his degree in Mathematics.

He taught in Kent and in Colchester before moving to South Shields to join the High School staff in around 1911, after which he moved on to Bede Collegiate School in Sunderland in 1914.

Having joined the Officer Training Corps during his time in Oxford, Stewart joined the 21st Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Scottish battalion) as 2nd Lieutenant shortly after the outbreak of war.

He was later promoted to Captain, and served as an adjutant for about a year.

He was reported missing, but later as "killed in action" at Albert, in Somme.

The date is uncertain. It was 30-Jun-1916 according to the school's records, on 3-Jul-1916 according to his memorial at Thiepval, and on 1-Jul-1916 according to the probate register.