On the memorial as G.W.LINGWOOD
No trace of a G.W.Lingwood dying as a result of the war has been found
hence it is assumed he was William George, detailed here
No. 3/10632, Lance Corporal, William George LINGWOOD
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William George ROYAL was born in Lakenheath (Mildenhall Q4-1880 4A:588) son of Margaret ROYAL.
1881 census... Aged 6 months, he was at Thetford Road, Brandon with his mother (unm.)[20] furrier, born Brandon and Mary Ann Royal [13] born Brandon, his aunt. His mother married George Plumb LINWOOD in 1882 (Thetford Q4 4A:1086) 1891 census...Aged 10, now recorded as William LINGWOOD, he was at London Road, Brandon with his father George LINGWOOD [38] farm labourer born Brandon; his mother Margaret [28] born Brandon. 1901 census...He was in the Norfolk Regiment in India. His parents were on their own at London Road, Brandon. He married Elizabeth ASHLEY (Thetford Q4-1905 4B:994) at Brandon parish church on 26th December 1905. 1911 census...Aged 30, he was at 67 Thetford Road, Brandon (recorded now as born in Brandon) a general labourer, with his wife Elizabeth [31] who had borne one child which had died; a boarder, Elizabeth ASHLEY [36] born Brandon. No Elveden connection has been found, perhaps he was a worker on the estate. His pension card records his widow Elizabeth as at 67 Thetford Road, Brandon, with their daughter Beatrice (born 9 March 1913) |
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In 1896 he enlisted in the Army at Thetford on 4th November for 7 years in the colours, 5 on reserve, number 4658. Already in the 4th Volunteer Reserve Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment, he gave his age as 18 years 2 months, a labourer. He was 5 feet 5.75 inches tall(167cm), weighing 131 lbs (59.4 kg), chest 34" to 36" (86.4 to 91.4 cm), Church of England. Posted to 2nd Battalion on 28th Feb.1897, and to the 1st Battalion on 13th December 1898. Promoted Lance Corporal on 7th November 1900. Posted to India 12th December 1898, and back to UK on 25th November 1904. Transferred to the Reserves as Lance Corporal on 26th November 1904. Having completed 12 years service he under no obligation to volunteer when the war broke out. From his war grant is appears he volunteered again late in 1914 The 8th Norfolk attacked from just north of Carnoy towards SW of Montauban on the 1st day of the Somme. Two companies "C" and "D" took MINE TRENCH, MINE SUPPORT and BUND SUPPORT by 08:40 but then the advance became "not so easy". Leaving BUND SUPPORT they came under very heavy enfilade machine gunfire from BRESLAU SUPPORT and BACK TRENCH and suffered heavy casualties, leaving no officer with the left leading company and just two subalterns in the right, and down to 90 and 100 men respectively. They still managed to take POMMIERS TRENCH, THE LOOP and after repeated attempts, MONTAUBAN ALLEY. Total casualties were put at the time as 11 Officers and 334 other ranks CWGC records 106 killed, of which only 18 have identified graves, the rest being named on the Thiepval memorial. click here to go to the Brandon at War website for more information Courtesy of the above link:- On 30th June 1916, his wife Elizabeth received a letter written by her husband and in it he asked her not to write to him or send him any parcels for the foreseeable future, until a time he could write to her again to let her know he was all right. "No doubt you will know the reason in a few days' time if you watch the papers. I hope you won't worry over it, but this may be the last time I shall write to you, for you never can tell what may happen. But let us hope we shall all get through safely … Remember me to all inquiring friends. I don't think the war will last much longer if this big move goes off all right. At least we all hope it will finish it." The following day William was one of three Brandon men serving in the 8th Norfolks to be killed on the first day of the Somme.
George is recorded as found above and re-interred in Dantzig Alley 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 |
