No. 3/10632, Lance Corporal, George William LINGWOOD
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There is much confusion over the identification of William George LINGWOOD (Army records) and George William LINGWOOD (civilian records) Birth registration is not conclusive,
ages do not tie in. The man in the marriage and 1911 census here is definitely the soldier recorded. George Watson (William?) Lingwood was born in 1884 in Brandon (Thetford Q2-1883 4B:407), son of Palmer Albert and Emma Louisa LINGWOOD (née WATSON). 1891 census...George W. aged 7, he was at London Road, Brandon with his father Palmer A.LINGWOOD [54] furrier and skin merchant; his mother Emma L [54] born Somersham, Hampshire; brothers Charles William [5], Bertie Albert [6] and Stanley Frederick [7 months]; sisters Beatrice Louise [14] and Lilian Grace [4]. All except his mother were born in Brandon. 1901 census...George, aged 17, a post office clerk, he was boarding at 7 Queen's Lane, Cambridge with Mary WEBSTER and her son. His parents were at London Road, Brandon with his sisters Beatrice and Lilian; brothers Bertie A (assistant school master) and Stanley F. In 1905 (Q4-1905 Thetford 4B:994) he married Elizabeth ASHLEY, later of 67 Thetford Road, Brandon. 1911 census...Aged 30, general labourer to furrier, he was at Thetford Road, Brandon with his wife Elizabeth Lingwood [31] born Brandon and a boarder, Elizabeth ASHLEY [36] born Brandon (his sister in law ?). There had been one child ( Kate 1911-1911 ?) which had died. His parents were at Avenue House, Brandon with his sister Lilian Grace and brother Stanley Frederick (hatter's furrier). No Elveden connection has been found. |
George front right , brother Albert standing
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He enlisted in Norwich.
He died on the first day of the battle of the Somme, the worst day in British military history. In the morning the 8th Norfolk assembled just before 5:20, with the 6th Berkshire on their left and 7th Queens on their right, just north of Carnoy, the objective being the German trenches SW of Montauban. At 7:20 the barrage began, swiftly followed by a retaliatory barrage and a German mine was exploded which did little damage. The advance quickly took MINE trench with little opposition or loss. By 7:40 MINE Support trench and MINE crater had been taken and by 8:40 BUND Support trench had been taken. Now however the advance slowed as very heavy machine gun fire from BRESLAU and BACK trenches enfiladed. "D" Company was reduced to 90 men and no officers, "C" Coy was down to 2 subalterns and about 100 men. With back up from "A" and "B" Companies POMMIERS Trench, The LOOP and MONTAUBAN ALLEY were eventually taken but at a cost. CWGC records show 105 men killed, only 18 having identified graves. There is some confusion in William George Lingwood's and a few of his comrades' case, since CWGC record show they were exhumed near Ayette (map sheet 57d) and re interred in Dantzig Alley in 1919. This is very odd since the area they fought over was between Carnoy and Montauban map sheet 62c and close to where he rests now. The top aerial view should not therefore be taken as completely accurate and may well be the result of a transcription error back in 1919. If this can be sorted out, then the record here will be updated.
George is recorded as found above and re-interred in Mametz in 1919
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission and also on the Weather Heath Memorial (Elveden Column by the A11) and Brandon war memorial. click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
