Percy Rowett White was born in the Sydney city of Paddington in Australia. He was a rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League competition.
White played 84 matches for the Eastern Suburbs club in the years 1908 to 1916. He played as a prop forward in East's 14-12 loss to South Sydney in rugby league's first premiership decider in 1908, and went on to be a member of Easts premiership winning sides in 1911,12 and 13 as well as well as the City Cup winning sides of 1914, 15 and 16. He is recognised as Eastern suburbs 23rd player. Team mate Eddie White was his brother while his father, John White, was one of the club's earliest presidents.
White was one of the many to fall on the Western Front during the First World War. He died of wounds on 24 April 1918 at Villers-Bretonneux.[1]
This article appeared under the heading of 'War Casualties' 8 May 1918.
“ | Mr. John White, of Trelawny, Gurner-street, Paddington, has received cable advice from his son, Lieut. E. C. White, advising the death in action of his youngest son, Percy Rowett White. Driver White was a member of the Master Builders' Association, of Sydney, and was a representative League footballer, having been a member of the Eastern Suburbs team since its foundation. | ” |