All posts by Alan G Lindfield

Research | Longshot:

The Price of Data

Leave a comment

Members will be aware that a substantial part of the subscription income of the Group is directed into research, but it may be interesting, and may help to put those subscriptions into context, to know how much a typical item of information costs.

As with most areas of research, the cost of family history information follows a law of diminishing returns. In the early stages, it is natural to collect all the available information from sources such as the telephone directories, the International Genealogical Index and the birth, marriage and death registration indexes. These yield relatively large quantities of data at very little cost, assuming that the work of collecting the information is done by volunteers! However, the quality of the information is obviously limited.

An entry for a telephone subscriber will often give only an initial and no indication of gender, so that even with a fairly uncommon surname, there are several possibilities including the widows of that surname whose first names we have not recorded. The identities of these individuals will often be established only when a street directory or other record yields further details such as the full first name. Except for a few such directories in public libraries, these will usually involve some cost, either to purchase the directory from a secondhand book dealer, or by payment to a search service such as FONS. The Group has a modest collection of Kelly’s and other street directories, particularly from areas of Sussex with significant numbers of Lin(d)field surnames.

Entries in civil registrations indexes did not give the age on death prior to 1866, nor the surname of the spouse on marriages prior to 1912. The maiden name of the mother apears in the birth index only after 1911. In these cases we may have no alternative but to order a copy of the certificate, which remains, for the present at least, the only way to obtain the full details. There is a lively debate on this issue, and a great deal of pressure is being applied to the government to make this process less expensive and the records more accessible, but the cost for a certificate remains at £6-50 until this is resolved.

Having collected the more obvious and freely available information, the search naturally moves on to more specialised and obscure types of record. Military records are a rich source of data, and mention has been made previously in LONGSHOT of some of the main sources. These include pension records and medal rolls and of course the list of war graves held by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Whilst the medal rolls are accessible without charge at the Public Records Office, it is obviously more convenient, and less costly in travelling expenses, to obtain books listing all the recipients of a particular medal where these are available.

FONS (Family Origin Name Survey) has been going for a number of years. We have been using them for at least 4 years and they have proved to be a very useful source for our one-name study. However, at £2 per item, their service would obviously be very expensive if we were dealing with a relatively common name, since they do not provide the facility to specify the particular categories of record in which we are interested. We are now beginning to find that some of the material they send us has already been covered in our records. For example, we had a search carried out some time ago by the War Graves Commission at a cost of about £20, for all the Linfield and Lindfield graves listed in their database, some 30 in all. (We are registered for each of the 4 services, pre 1600, 1600-1858, 1859-1900 and 1901-1940). FONS have recently covered some of the published lists of war graves and several of the items they have sent us recently have been graves we already had on the WGC list. Whilst it is irritating to have to pay £2 each for these, it is inevitable given the way that the service works.

In terms of a price per data item, £2 is clearly expensive when compared with, say the 1881 census fiche (about 400 Linfield/Lindfield individuals in Sussex at a cost of around £40, or around 10p each). On the other hand, it looks like good value alongside the Biography Database CD-ROMS at around £90 each which yielded less than 20 items between the two issued so far, or around £10 each, and we certainly have books in our library which have cost £10 or more and only contain one reference to the names we are researching.

Clearly, the examples shown do not bear direct comparison, in that many of the books and records in our library are also a source of information on other names, such as the families with whom the Lin(d)fields married. Incidentally, we are always happy to look up other names for members, particularly where the search will add to the information on the various Lin(d)field family trees.

Another source which appears at first sight to be excessively costly is the CD-ROM of Soldiers Died in the Great War. SDGW was originally published by the War Office in 81 volumes and sets of these books are very expensive and seldom appear for sale. The CD-ROM is actually much more than an electronic copy of the books – it includes extensive database search facilities which allow, for example, searching by regiment and place of death. The cost of the CD is currently £220, though we bought it at the pre-publication price of £150 plus VAT. Each of the 15 Lin(d)field entries might therefore be costed at around £10. However, the value of owning the CD in the longer term is that we can also find the husbands of female Lin(d)fields widowed in the war, as well as being able to assist other researchers in return for assistance with the Lin(d)field research.

The complete listing of all the books and other material owned by the Group is held as part of the main database and can be printed for any member who would like a copy. Please send an A4 SAE to me, with a cheque or stamps to the value of £1. The Library List also includes material held by individual members, where these have been notified to me.

Longshot Contents | Longshot:

Longshot Vol 7, No. 1

Leave a comment

Some Lin(d)field Miscellanies: (1), by Malcolm Linfield
The Price of Data, by Alan Lindfield
Lindfield, and All Who Sail in Her, by Alan Lindfield
Newspaper & Magazine Cuttings Part 3, by Malcolm Linfield
The Linfields of Southern Africa – Part 1, by Barry Linfield
The Linfields of Southern Africa – Part 2, by Bill Linfield
Royal Connections – Some biographical sketches of Arthur Ridley, by Alan Linfield
The Postcard Index, by Alan Lindfield
The Census Project, by Alan Lindfield

Front Cover: The latest batch of postcards from the Postcard Index – see article on p37.

Archives | Longshot:

It Could Be You!

Leave a comment

In the days before the National Lottery and the football pools, people no doubt used to dream of inheriting a fortune from some long lost relative. Tracing the heirs of deceased clients is a task which still falls to solicitors and their clerks, and which I have always assumed must explain the number of young men and women who used to appear in the search rooms at St Catherine’s House talking on their cellular telephones while frantically searching the births, marriages and deaths. Naturally I hoped that I was the lucky relative they were searching for!

I was intrigued therefore, to receive from the Family Origin Name Survey, several entries from publications which list heirs to unclaimed estates, and searches for next-of-kin. The first was published in 1878 and lists two Lindfield entries, Henry Lindfield, and Spencer Lindfield. As to Henry, we cannot tell which Henry is referred to, though it may be that a search of the original documents might help. The Index seems to have been compiled from Chambers Index to Next of Kin. Spencer Lindfield is much easier to identify, particularly as she also appears in another of the FONS references as Mrs S Lindfield of Walworth. She died in 1857 and I recounted her story in a previous article (Crime and Punishment LONGSHOT Vol 4 no 2). It would be interesting to know how much money she left and whether it represented the proceeds of the crimes with which she was charged!

Anecdotes | Longshot:

A Lindfield Coat of Arms

Leave a comment

One of the questions often asked of family historians is whether their family has a coat of arms. Until recently, I had to say that we had found no evidence of any grant of arms to anyone bearing one of the name variants we are researching. Until that is, I had a surprise visit from Ernest William Lindfield of Shearwater, Tasmania, who was in England on holiday. Ernest left with me a photograph of the coat of arms, or more strictly, the Armorial Bearings, which had recently been granted to him in recognition of his public service.

Our printing process cannot really do justice to the colour photograph, but I have copied out the wording of the Warrant, which readers may find of interest. There are plenty of good books around on heraldry which will provide a translation of the rather arcane terminology!

 

ARMORIAL BEARINGS GRANTED TO ERNEST WILLIAM LINDFIELD

His Grace’s Warrant (Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England) and by virtue of the Letters Patent of My Office granted to Me by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty do by these Presents grant and assign unto the said ERNEST WILLIAM LINDFIELD the Arms following that is to say:- Quarterly Azure and Or in the first and fourth quarters a Martlet wings displayed and addorsed in the second and third a Mullet all counterchanged on a Pale Ermine a Caduceus Gold And for the Crest upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent Or and Azure A Tasmanian Tiger rampant holding in the sinister paw a pair of Scales Or and in the dexter a Cutlass proper Mantled Azure doubled Party Or and Argent And I further grant and assign the following Device or Badge that is to say: Upon a Aboriginal Spear and a Didgeridoo in saltire proper an Eagle displayed Or all within a wreath of Greater Bird of Paradise Tail Feathers proper as the same are in the margin hereof more plainly depicted to be borne and used forever hereafter by the said ERNEST WILLIAM LINDFIELD and by his descendants with their due and proper differences and according to the Laws of Arms.

Our congratulations to Ernest on achieving this honour, and on being, as far as we know, the first Lindfield to be entitled to a coat of arms.

Research | Longshot:

The 1881 Census in Sussex

Leave a comment

As some readers will be aware, a major project was recently undertaken by the Church of Latter Day Saints to index and publish the 1881 census returns for the United Kingdom. This has produced an extremely useful resource for family historians, in that we now have a complete, and comprehensively indexed, set of data for that year. In fact the entries are indexed in a four ways, by surname, by birthplace, by census place and finally as enumerated.

As a formally constituted family history society, the Lin(d)field One Name Group is allowed to purchase copies of the microfiche index and we have now bought the set for Sussex. As luck would have it, the other counties which contain significant numbers of Lin(d)fields at that time, are among the larger counties in terms of population and are therefore much more expensive sets of fiche. We will collect the data from those in due course using copies at local and national archives. I have made a start on that process by obtaining copies of the relevant pages from the surname indexes for Kent, Middlesex and Lancashire.

To return to the Sussex data, I have now entered all of the surname index information into a computer spreadsheet, which allows us to sort the entries automatically and to print them out in various formats as required. The total number in Sussex is 381, made up of 248 of the Lindfield spelling and 133 shown as Linfield. Perhaps surprisingly, there are no Linkfield, Lingfield, Linville or similar names.

For those members who are interested in such things, the data is held in an Excel spreadsheet, and I am happy to make a copy on disc for anyone who wants one for research purposes. There is clearly a lot of scope for analysing the information, in terms of the wealth of demographic data it contains. It would be fascinating, for example, to examine the location, occupations, family sizes and other aspects, as they relate to our family names.

Another related project has been started by Geoff Riggs of the Guild of One Name Studies who is collating statistics for the number of occurrences of various surnames in the 1881 census year. When we have completed our search of the 1881 entries, we will be sending the county totals to Geoff for entry into his database. In return, we will receive a map showing the distribution around the country.

When all the data has been collected and entered into the spreadsheet, we hope to publish it in book form, as well as making it available as a computer based resource.

Archives, Lin(d)field History | Longshot:

More Service Records

Leave a comment

In Longshot Vol 5 number 2, we published a list of the records we have found of military service by Lin(d)fields. We now have a complete listing from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which gives some further details, and in some cases these have allowed us to establish the identities and family connections. The listing also includes a number of war graves of which we were previously unaware.

The first was mentioned in the earlier article:

 

Royal Sussex Regiment, deaths in 1914-18 War

LINFIELD, William Ernest, private, SD/5183, 12th Bn, died 30 June 1916, buried Loos, reference MR19. Database number #13932. We now have the name of his mother from the War Grave details, together with his age. He was 20 when he died and his mother is shown as Mrs Harriett Linfield of 2 Spring Villas, Lyminster, Littlehampton. This allows us to connect him as follows:

 

1. Christopher LINFIELD #909 born 3 Nov 1850, Washington, Sussex (Reg: Thakeham), ref: opcs/b vii529, occupation Farmer & contractor, married 25 Sep 1880, marr ref: opcs/m 2b553, Thakeham, Sussex, England, Harriet FRANCES #910, born abt 1859, died 1937, Toddington. Christopher died 26 Dec 1916, Spring Villas, Lyminster, living: 1851, Washington, Sussex. Poss same as #1771. No Christopher or Harry/Henry in opcs/b for 1848. Prev entered as #13869 from opcs/b. Shown in CR51 as aged 5m, bn Washington [1851 Index SFHG, fo 262] Said to have 11 children, known as Harry, occupation farm carter, according to letter to Eric from Christopher and Eva Linfield September 1973. Family moved from Warminghurst to Billingshurst after Harriett was born but before she started school in 1891. From there they moved to Houghton Bridge near Amberley, and from there to Thakeham where they lived in Thakeham St. They were still there when Harriett left school in 1899/1900. They moved subsequently to Lyminster.
Children
i Elizabeth LINFIELD #4433 born q1—1881, (Reg: Thakeham), ref: opcs/b 2b366, married Steve JANMAN #15498. Prev entered as #4129 from opcs/b.
ii Harry LINFIELD #4429 born 1 Jul 1882.
iii Christopher LINFIELD #911 born q4—1883, Toddington, ref: opcs/b 2b350, occupation Farmer & contractor, married q2—1915, in Toddington, marr ref: opcs/m 2b1003, East Preston, Sussex, Ellen LUCKIN #912, born 1880, Toddington, died 1958, Toddington. Christopher died 1951, Toddington. No children [Letter to Eric from Christopher and Eva Linfield September 1973] Birth given as 1883 on info from Colin Mainstone; 1884 by W F Daggett. Prev entered also as #4471 from opcs/b. Birth place given as Toddington by W F Daggett, Thakeham by K Joan Puttock, letter July 1995. Marriage prev shown as 1917.
iv Fanny LINFIELD #4499 born ?? Jun 1885, Thakeham, Sussex, England, ref: opcs/b 2b334, married Harry HAMMOND #15499. Birth reg Q3 1885.
Harry: Speeling prev shown as HAMMAND.
v Harriett LINFIELD #4434 born 21 Jul 1886.
vi Annie LINFIELD #3160 born q3—1888, Thakeham, Sussex, England, ref: opcs/b 2b321. OPCS ref poss incorrect – same as #3162 Annie listed by Colin Mainstone; shown as md to Ernest GILLETT. Letter to Eric from Christopher and Eva Linfield September 1973 shows Nancy. K Joan Puttock, letter July 1995 shows Nance, christened Annie or Nancy and bn abt 1887/8. Two opcs/b entries for Annie in 1888; see also #3168.
vii Annie Linfield #3168 born q4—1888, Thakeham, Sussex, England, ref: opcs/b 2b342. Two opcs/b entries for Annie in 1888; see also #3160.
viii Emily LINFIELD #4437 born abt 1888, Lyminster, Littlehampton, married q2—1919, marr ref: opcs/m 2b1069, East Preston, Sussex, William WYATT #15501, born abt 1888. Emily died Littlehampton, Sussex. Shown as Emm on info from Colin Mainstone. Only opcs/b refs Thakeham are in 1881 #4130 and 1890 #4547. Ref for latter is 2b309 Q4 1890.
ix Kate LINFIELD #4438 born q4—1893, Lyminster, Littlehampton (Reg: Thakeham), bp. 31 Dec 1994, Billingshurst, Sussex, ref: opcs/b 2b327, married q1—1917, marr ref: opcs/m 2b595, East Preston, Sussex, Frederick MUNDAY #15500, born abt 1890. Kate died Australia, living: 1915/16?, 96 Shirland Rd, Maida Vale, West London?. Poss same as #1706 bp Billingshurst 31 Dec 1894. Name given as Kit by Colin Mainstone. Most likely opcs/b ref is Kate LINFIELD Q4 1893 2b327 #14091. Poss the Miss Kate LINFIELD at 96 Shirland Rd, Maida Vale, W London in 1915/6, recipient of postcard from Rifleman Will EDWARDS, Hut L30, D Coy 3rd Bn London Irish Rifles, Morn Hill Camp, Winchester. [Postcard, date unclear 1915/16]
Frederick: Spelling is MUNDY in opcs/m.
x Mary LINFIELD #14081 born q2—1892, Thakeham, Sussex, England, ref: opcs/b 2b342, died q4—1892, Thakeham, Sussex, England. Death ref opcs/d 2b229; age given as 0.
xi William Ernest LINDFIELD #13932 born q2—1896, Houghton Bridge, Amberley (Reg Thakeham), ref: opcs/b 2b338, occupation Private Soldier, died 30 Jun 1916, France, buried: Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais. Died in WW1, aged 18-19 [K Joan Puttock, letter July 1995] Shown as Wm Ernest LINFIELD, private, SD/5183. 12th Bn., Royal Sussex regt. Died 30 June 1916, age 20. S of Mrs Harriett L, 2 Spring Villas, Lyminster. [Casualty Listing from Commonwealth War Graves Commission 20 March 1997.]
xii Frederick George LINFIELD #14463 born q3—1898.
xiii Alfred James LINFIELD #14139 born q2—1901, East Preston, Sussex, ref: opcs/b 2b353. No children [Letter to Eric from Christopher and Eva Linfield September 1973]

Another one from the previous article was Gunner William Lindfield of Horsham:

 

Basra Memorial – Iraq

In the previous article we listed LINDFIELD William, gunner, Royal Artillery, number 15420. Shown as born and enlisted at Horsham, died 10 July 1916, in Mesopotamia.(Ref. 1) In this case we also now have the location of the memorial and the parents and age of the soldier. He is shown on the Basra Memorial as follows:

LINDFIELD, Gunner, William, 57420. 20th Bty. Royal Field Artillery. Drowned in the Tigris 10th July 1916. Age 30. Son of William and Rebecca Lindfield of 4 Mill Lane, Lower Beeding, Horsham, Sussex. [#4159 in database].

 

Inscriptions on the Menin Gate, Ypres

We now find that there are in fact 2 soldiers listed on the Menin Gate which lists soldiers killed at Ypres but with no known grave. The first is shown as Private John LINFIELD, 1454, of the 16th (The Queen’s) Lancers, who died on 21st October 1914. As yet, we have not identified him, and would obviously be grateful if any member can help us to do so.

The second was Rifleman Percy LINFIELD, S/11733 of the 7th Bn. Rifle Brigade. He is shown as aged 26 when he died on 7th July 1915 and is shown as the son of Thomas and Sara Lindfield of 209 High St, Tooting, London. His birth was registered in the second quarter of 1889, but as yet we have no further details of his parents. We may find some useful clues in the 1881 census.

 

Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium

LINFIELD, Private, Percy Frank, G/16044, “B” Coy. 13th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in enemy air raid 15th October 1917. Age 31. Son of John and Friend Linfield, of Storrington; husband of Esther Barbara Linfield, of White Horse Yard, Storrington, nr Pulborough, Sussex. O.8. [#2092 in database].

 

Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension – Somme

LINFIELD, Private, Albert David John, 6403197. 7th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment. 26th May 1940. Age 22. Son of Charles Albert and Emily Maria Linfield, of Chichester, Sussex; husband of Mary Campbell Linfield, of Chichester. Plot 9. Row D. Grave 16. [#5383 in database].

 

Beaumont-Hamel (Newfoundland) Memorial – Somme

LINFIELD, Private, Roland, 2543. Royal Newfoundland Regt. Killed in action near Marcoing 20 November 1917. Son of Alfred G Linfield of Loon Bay, Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland. [#9431 in database].

 

Croisilles British Cemetery – Pas de Calais

LINFIELD, Private, Fredrick (sic), 12648. 2nd BN. The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regt.) 2nd April 1917. Age 30. Son of George and K Linfield, of Wakeland’s Farm Cottage, Moor Lane, Ringmer, Sussex. Born at Henfield. IV. C. 30. [#1857 in database].

 

Pozieres Memorial – Somme

LINGFIELD, Private, William James, 125255. 16th Bn. Machine Gun Corps (Inf). 4th April 1918. Age 30. Son of William James Lingfield; husband of the late Charlotte Lingfield. As yet, I have not been able to identify this family.

In the earlier article we showed the death of Private William Denn LINFIELD as 5th May 1918, from the information obtained from the Regimental records. The CWGC records, however, have the date as 5th April.

 

Regina Trench Cemetery – Somme

LINFIELD, Private, George Frank, 4640. 7th BN. Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). 19th November 1916. Age 20. Son of Ephraim and Mary Ann Linfield, of Groombridge, Kent. V.F.3. [#1537 in database].

 

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery – Somme

LINFIELD, Private E, G/15944. 13th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment. 29th March 1918. VI.F.6. At this stage, we are unable to identify this man, having no address or first name or other clues. If any readers can help, we would be grateful.

 

Khayat Beach War Cemetery – Israel

LINFIELD, Able Seaman, Albert, P/SSX19714. HMS Janus, Royal Navy. 9th June 1941. Son of David Peter and Annie Linfield, of West Horsham, Sussex. A.D.7. [#14282 in database].

 

Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery – Netherlands

LINFIELD, Private, Frederick Alexander, M/105560. Lincoln and Welland Regiment, R.C.I.C, 24th October 1944. 2.B.9. [#18602 in database]. It seems likely that he died during operations to recapture the Scheldt estuary, in which Canadian forces played a major part.(Ref. 2) We have yet to establish where he was born and when, and which branch he belongs to.

 

Rawalpindi War Cemetery – Pakistan

LINFIELD, Private, Joseph Henry, L/10867. 1st Bn. Royal Sussex Regt. 24th November 1919. 4.A.2. [#4707 in database].

He was the son of William and Jane Linfield of Angmering, and was probably an uncle of William Denn Linfield who was buried at Pozieres, (see above). However, these connections remain to be proved:

 

1. William LINFIELD #1895 born 1844, Angmering, occupation Bricklayer, married Jane —– #16098, born abt 1846, Sompting, died 20 Sep 1897, (Reg: East Preston), living: 1891, Angmering. William living: 23 Oct 1891, Angmering, Sussex. Poss the Wm LINFIELD, Builder & Contractor in Angmering 1903/1911 [Invoices purchased July 1993 from Judy Bright]. Named with bro Chas as the surviving execs of will of father in 1891. Shown as aged 46 bn Angmering in CR91.

Jane: Shown in CR91 as aged 45, bn Sompting. [RG12/838 fo 141] Death ref opcs/d 2b219, age shown as 51; date given by Chris & Wendy Elliott.

Children
i Louisa LINFIELD #7462 born abt 1862, bp. 27 Jul 1862, Pulborough, Sussex, England, occupation Servant, living: 1881, Slinfold, Sussex, England. Poss same as #13949 opcs/b Q3 1861 Thakeham or #4334 Q2 1860 Horsham, Sussex. Prev shown as child of #8058 – seems more likely given Pulborough location. Shown as aged 19 in CR81; servant bn Pulborough, living with Amy MILLS, unm.
ii Ralph LINFIELD #3217 born q1—1872, East Preston, Sussex, bp. 17 Mar 1872, Angmering, Sussex, England, ref: opcs/b 2b359, married q4—1892, marr ref: opcs/m 2b751, East Preston, Sussex, —– —– #16067, born abt 1872. Also entered as #8056 from IGI import. Prev shown as child of #8058.
2. iii Robert Denn LINFIELD #3280 born q1—1874.
iv Frank LINFIELD #3312 born q1—1876, East Preston, Sussex, bp. 20 Feb 1876, Angmering, Sussex, ref: opcs/b 2b358, living: 1891, Angmering. Also entered as #651
from IGI import. Prev shown as child of #8058. Shown in CR91 as aged 15, bricklayer’s labourer, bn Angmering, same folio as William #1895 and Edwin #1897.
v Joseph Henry LINFIELD #4707 born q4—1878, Angmering (Reg: East Preston, Sussex), ref: opcs/b 2b355, occupation Private Soldier, died 24 Nov 1919, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, buried: Rawalpindi War Cemy, living: 1891, Angmering, Sussex. Shown as Private Joseph Henry LINFIELD, L/10867, Royal Sussex Regt. No age or details of parents, consistent with presumed age if #4707 is correct birth. [Casualty Listing from Commonwealth War Graves Commission 20 March 1997.] NOT PROVED THAT BIRTH AND DEATH DETAILS ARE OF SAME PERSON. Shown in CR91 as aged 12, farm boy, bn Angmering [RG12/838 fo 141]
vi Horace William LINFIELD #4036 born q3—1880, East Preston, Sussex, ref: opcs/b 2b375, living: 1891, Angmering, Sussex. Shown in CR91 as aged 10, scholar, bn Angmering, same folio as Edwin #1897 & William #1895.[RG12/838 fo 141] Shown in CR81 as aged 8m.
vii Hannah Denn LINFIELD #4404 born q3—1883, East Preston, Sussex, ref: opcs/b 2b367, married q2—1906, marr ref: opcs/m 2b753, East Preston, Sussex, —– —– #18069. Hannah living: 1891, Angmering. Shown in CR91 as aged 7, scholar, bn Angmering; same folio as Wm and Edwin.

Next Generation

 

2. Robert Denn LINFIELD #3280 born q1—1874, East Preston, Sussex, bp. 15 Feb 1874, Angmering, Sussex, ref: opcs/b 2b344, married q4—1892, in Stroud, marr ref: opcs/m 6a611, —– —– #16075. Also entered as #8191 from IGI import. Spelling is Dean in IGI, Denn in opcs/b Also spelt Denn in opcs/m. Prev shown as child of #8058.

 
Children
i William Denn LINFIELD #4615 born q3—1894, Stroud, Kent, ref: opcs/b 6a309, occupation Private soldier, died 5 Apr 1918, buried: Pozieres Cemy, MR27. See also #3280 Robt Denn bn 1874 and #4404 Hannah Denn bn 1883 both E. Preston Listed in war dead as Pte William Denn LINFIELD, no SD/3164, 7th Bn, Royal Sx. Regiment ref MR27. NO PROOF OF LINK TO THESE PARENTS

 

Chatham Memorial – Kent, England

LINFIELD, Able Seaman, Alfred, C/J 114303. HMS Picotee Royal Navy. 12 August 1941. Age 31. Son of Frank and Lillian Linfield of Harlesden, Middx. 43,1. [#5497 in database].

LINFIELD, Able Seaman, William Stephen Lloyd, C/JX 247986. HMS Dasher Royal Navy. 27th March 1943. Age 22. Son of Edward John and Hannah Pearce Linfield of Twillingate, Newfoundland. 73, 2. [#16896 in database]. His descent from the Twillingate branch is as follows:

 

1. Frederick LINFIELD #9206 born 29 Aug 1849, Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada, bp. 1 Nov 1849, Jenkins Cove, Twillingate, married 1 Jan 1881, in Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada, Susannah POND #9205, born 1850, died 5 Mar 1938, Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada, buried: North Side Cemy, Twillingate. Frederick died 17 Jun 1921, Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada, buried: North Side Cemy, Twillingate. Started the Linfield store on the North Side and later passed it to son Edward. MI shows as aged 72.

Susannah: MI shows as aged 88.

 
Children
2. i Edward John LINFIELD #9204 born 1883.
ii Isabelle Lydia LINFIELD #16888 born 29 Nov 1881, Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada, bp. 7 Mar 1882, married S COOK #16889, born abt 1881.

Next Generation

 

2. Edward John LINFIELD #9204 born 1883, Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada, married Hannah Pearce —– #16890, born 1885, died 13 May 1967, Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada. Edward died 30 Nov 1951, Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada. MI shows as aged 68.

Hannah: MI shows as aged 82.

 
Children
i Emma Isabella LINFIELD #16891 born 6 Jul 1909, Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada, bp. 25 Aug 1909, died 3 Oct 1909, buried: Nth Side Cemy, Twillingate. Prev shown as Erma Isabel.[from MI notes; Kaiser papers]. MI shows as aged 3 months.
ii Raymond George LINFIELD #16892 born 21 May 1911, Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada, bp. 19 Jun 1911, died 21 Aug 1911. MI shows as aged 3 months.
iii Hubert Sidney LINFIELD #16893 born 1912, Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada, died 3 Jul 1913. MI shows as aged 10 months.
iv Clara Louise LINFIELD #16894 born 1914, Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada, died 2 Mar 1915. MI shows as aged 9 months.
. v Ena Geneve LINFIELD #16895 born 1 Jul 1916.
vi William Stephen Lloyd LINFIELD #16896 born 1921, Twillingate, Newfoundland, Canada, occupation Able Seaman, died 27 Mar 1943, HMS Dasher, buried: /commemorated, Chatham Memorial, Kent. Death prev shown as 26 Mar 1948 (presumed copying error). Shown as Able Seaman , C/JX 247986, HMS Dasher, Royal Navy, aged 22, son of Edward John and Hannah Pearce LINFIELD of Twillingate, Newfoundland. Ref 73,2. [Casualty Listing from Commonwealth War Graves Commission 20 March 1997.]

 

Dover (St James’s) Cemetery – Kent

LINFIELD, Leading Seaman, Harry Robert, 126723. H.M. Trawler “Lock Naver”. Royal Navy. Drowned 16th April 1915. Age 46. (R.F.R./PO/B/580). Born at Brighton, Sussex. M.W.19. [#3055 in database]. Harry was the son of Robert and Caroline Linfield, from whom several members of the Group descend, and whose descent is shown at the end of the article by Norma Frew in this issue.

Lowestoft Naval Memorial – Suffolk

LINFIELD, Lieutenant, Frederick Roy, Royal Naval Reserve. 29th January 1942. Age 31. Husband of Alice Cameron Minter Linfield, of Durban, Natal, South Africa. Panel 8, Column 1. [#2948 in database]. Frederick would have served with the Royal Naval Patrol Service, which was based in Lowestoft. Arthur G Lindfield was also a member of the RNPS, and his article about the Service appears elsewhere in this issue.

 

Wallasey (Rake Lane) Cemetery – Cheshire

LINFIELD, Ordinary Seaman, H.C. SS/7956. (PO). R.N. HMS “Achilles” Royal Navy. 21st October 1918. Age 19. Son of Harry and Mary Linfield of Chesswood Farm Cottage, Chesswood Road, Worthing. 7. C of E. 2. [#4838 or #5432 in database].

 

Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery – Belgium

LINDFIELD, Private, Albert Edward, 401984, 49th Bn., Canadian Infantry, (Alberta Regt). Died of accidental injuries 6 Sept 1916. Age 22. Son of Annie Lindfield (now Woolgar) of 299 Grey St etc and the late Henry Thos L, native of Brighton. Grave ref IX.D.15.

His father was Henry Thomas Lindfield who married Annie Scardifield:

 

Tyne Cot Memorial – Belgium

LINDFIELD, Private, Ephraim, 40940. 1st Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment. 4th October 1917. [#1530 in database].

 

Adanac Military Cemetery – Somme

LINDFIELD, Sapper, P, 154480. 401st Field Coy, Royal Engineers. 25th March 1918. IV. K. 11. [Possibly #1965 in database.] Another mystery, this one. If anyone can help us to identify him, please get in touch.

 

Aire Communal Cemetery – Pas de Calais

LINDFIELD, Private, C E, T4/083574. 46TH Coy. Army Service Corps. 15th November 1915. I.C. 10.

 

Mont Huon Military Cemetery – Seine Maritime

LINDFIELD, Able Seaman, Percy William, R/6248. Drake Bn., Royal Naval Division. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Died of wounds (gas) 26 Mar 1918. Age 30. Husband of Grace Gertrude Lindfield of 43a, Richmond St, Brighton, Sussex. V.F.5A. [#3153 in database].

He was possibly the son of William Henry LINDFIELD #15748 born 19 May 1858, Lindfield, Sussex, occupation Coachman, who married on 19 September 1886, in St Peter’s, Brighton, Annie Elizabeth PERCY #15749. Percy William was born on 21st December 1887, in Brighton. According to information supplied by Alice & Tony Bamber, he was gassed on March 12, 1918 and died 14 days later. Percy and Grace had no children. Grace remarried.

Hove Old Cemetery – Sussex

LINDFIELD, Boy Second Class, Henry Thomas, J/89929. HMS “Impregnable” Royal Navy. Died of pneumonia 27th June 1918. Age 16. Son of Henry and Elizabeth Lindfield of Road Hole, West Blatchington, Hove. E.115. [#5517 in database]

 

Reigate (Redstone) Cemetery – Surrey

LINDFIELD, Gunner, George William, 1598363. 263 Bty. 19 Lt A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery. 30th June 1945. Age 33. Son of George and Ellen Lindfield; husband of Elizabeth D Lindfield of Reigate. Grave 67. [#5664 in database].

 

Wick Cemetery – Caithnesshire

LINDFIELD, Chief Petty Officer Writer, Arthur, P/M38109. HMS Exmouth Royal Navy. 21st January 1940. Age 35. Son of Arthur George and Laurie Rebecca Lindfield; husband of Kathleen Nellie Ada Lindfield, of Drayton, Cosham, Hampshire. Sec.O. Coll. grave 1.

 

In a future article, I will concentrate on those who served in other conflicts such as the American Civil War, and the War of Independence, the Crimean War, and the English Civil War. If any readers have particular interests in these subjects or know of Lin(d)field ancestors with military connections, I would be very pleased to hear from them.

References

1. Soldiers Died in the Great War. HMSO 1919.

2. Normandy to the Baltic, by Field-Marshal The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. Hutchinson & Co, 1947

Links

Longshot Contents | Longshot:

Longshot Vol 6, No. 1

Leave a comment

More Service Records, by Alan Lindfield
The Ballard Family Register, by Malcolm Linfield
Edmund Linfield of Storrington, Clockmaker, by Malcolm Linfield
Reflections from the President, part 3, by Eric Linfield
The 1881 Census in Sussex, by Alan Lindfield
The Life of Walter James Burrage, by Norma Frew
The Royal Naval Patrol Service, by Arthur G Lindfield
The Avery and Beard Connections, by Mary Offer
A Lindfield Coat of Arms, by Alan Lindfield
It Could be You!, by Alan Lindfield
The Last Word

Front Cover: Linfield clock; see article on page 15