LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI
Lieutenant Arthur Tipping Linforth
52nd Bn Canadian Infantry
shoulder
patch 52 Bn Canadian Infantry
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Taken, Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS
Lt
Arthur T Linforth
52nd Canadian Infantry
Somme
Sept 17 1916 [sic]
As with the other men serving with the Canadian forces, the only
information available is contained in the Parish magazine, which states
that he was 'killed in action' on the above date. (1)
Notes on sources
1. Parish magazine of St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead, issue of
November 1916
Further research
Lieutenant
LINFORTH, ARTHUR TIPPING
Died 16/09/1916
52nd Bn. Canadian Infantry
Commemorated at VIMY
MEMORIAL
Location: Pas de Calais, France
Son of James and Mary Linforth, of Ryde, Isle of Wight.
He has no known grave.
The Leatherhead War Memorial (17/9) and the CWGC (16/9)
differ by a day on his date of death. The Canadian records also state
16th September.
His Canadian records show he was a member of a Militia
unit, the 101st Edmonton Fusiliers when he enlisted in the 51st Canadian
Battalion as a Private. He was promoted to Corporal on 30 January 1915
and Lieutenant on 19 September 1915. The 51st Battalion sailed on 18
April 1916 from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the SS
Missanabie for Liverpool. He was a big chap, 6ft 3 in in
height.
On the 10th June 1916 he arrived in France was taken on
the strength of the 52nd Canadian Infantry Battalion where he was
in "A" Company at the time of his death.
On 16th September 1916 he was reported wounded but on the
same date this was changed to killed in action, missing.
WAR DIARY 52nd Battalion Canadian Infantry
[The Battalion had moved from the VADECOURT AREA to the BRICKFIELDS
(ALBERT) on 14th September. On 15th September they moved again taking up
bivouacs with the other Battalions of the [7th] Brigade on the south
slope of USNA HILL.]
USNA HILL September 16
Lt Col Sutherland, OC called over to Bde Hd.Qrs about 12 noon. Later an
order received from Bde for the Battalion to move up to the CHALK PITS
under the Second in command.
Battalion moved off and proceeded to CCHALK PITS via LA BOISELLE. Here the
OC caught up with the Bn and had Company and. Unit Commanders fall out and
the Battalion proceeded to CHALK PITS.
The OC explained to the Company and Unit Commanders that the 7th Bde was
ordered to make an attack at 5 pm and take over and consolidate ZOLLERN
GRABEN TRENCH from R.29.a.9.4 to R.28.a.9.7. Under cover of this new line
the 9th Bde will attack from R.28.d.5.7, R.28.b.4.2 to R.28.b.5.7, and
advance in a westerly direction with their right on ZOLLERN GRABEN and
their left on FABECK GRABEN.
First objective to be line of the trench R.28.c.2.4, 5.6, z.91 -
R.28.a.3.6. Second objective to be a line R.28.a.3.6 ZOLLERN REDOUBT
(R.27.b.5.3 - R.27.d.5.9 - R.27.d.4.2 - R.27.d.3.1) which will be captured
and consolidated.
Attack from the line R.28.d.5.7 - R.28.b.4.2 - R.28.b.5.7 to start at 6.30
pm. 60th Cdn Bn to attack the first objective, 52nd Bn to attack the
second objective. At 6.45 pm the barrage to lift to the second objective
and at 7.15 pm to lift from the second objective. Bn will occupy FABECK
GRABEN east of R.28.d.5.7 and move into the assaulting position or jumping
off trench after the 60th Battalion leave. Watches synchronised at 3.30
pm.
Advanced Report centre for Bde R.34.d.3.3 (off CENTREWAY TRENCH) "D" Coy
on the right and "C" Coy on the left to form first wave. "A Coy on the
right and "C" Coy on the left to form second wave. Frontage of "D" Coy
from right of first objective to R.27.d.8.8. Frontage of "B" Coy from
right of R.27.d.8.8 to left of first objective.
First objective for the Bn R.27.b.6.3 - R.27.b.8.2 - R.27.d.7.5? to
R.27.d.9.1. "D" and ""B" Coy to take the first objective and consolidate.
"A" and "C" Coy to take the second objective (R.27.b.5.1, R.27.d.5.9,
R.27.d.7.3?, pushing on and clearing the trench running from last named
point to R.27.d.4.2).
Operation Order issued giving complete details for specialists and the
third and fourth wave. Battalion started from CHALK PITS about 5.45 pm
following the 60th Bn and proceeded across the open country in single
file. Several delays occurred on the way owing to the difficulty in
getting over disused trenches.
Crossing the field up the slope at R.28.d south of FABECK GRABEN between
the SUNKEN ROAD and CENTREWAY TRENCH the Battalion came under intense
bombardment of artillery, machine gun and rifle fire, suffering heavy
casualties in the officers and other ranks. Just before reaching the
Jumping Off Trench the OC and the Adjutant were both wounded by rifle
bullets.
Major WT Lawless took over the command with Lieut. HC Fryer as Adjutant
and led the Bn into SUNKEN ROAD and immediately got in touch with OC 49th
Bn and found that the 7th Bde had not gained their objective, the
assaulting companies being cut down by machine gun and rifle fire. Owing
to this fact and the fact that the 60th Cdn Bn had not gained their
objective, the 52nd Bn could not go ahead, so Major Lawless sent out
orders for the men to dig in along along the SUNKEN ROAD and told them to
'stand by' until further orders were received as the attack had been
delayed. He then immediately got in touch with the 7th Bde and found we
could do nothing else but hold our present position.
On checking up the officers and other ranks it was found that we had lost
4 officers killed, 7 officers wounded and 244 other ranks killed and
wounded crossing the open country to our present position.
The officers killed were as follows: CAPT HJ HORAN OC "C" Coy - Lieuts
HARVEY & DRUMMOND of "B" Coy - Lieut LINFORTH of "A" Coy.
The officers wounded wounded were: Lt Col DM SUTHERLAND - Capt & Adjt
WF Guild, MAJOR HJ HUGHES , OC "B" Coy. "B" Coy Lieut BOWRON, "C" Coy
Lints Donaldson, JM, and Peach, PW - "D" Coy Lieut FINLAYSON, RK.
"B" Coy having lost all its officers acting ??? Sgt Major A Mitchell took
over the command of the Company and while guiding them into SUNKEN ROAD
was badly wounded. Notwithstanding this, he kept on leading the men and
having got them there he ordered them to dig in and supervised the work
until he fell exhausted and died a short while later.
Capt WF Guild although severely wounded in the arm assisted Major Lawless
and gave him all the information and material assistance in his power and
remained with him for one hour before going for medical attention. In him
the battalion lost one who has worked ceaselessly in the interests of the
Battalion since its formation.
source: Library
& Archives Canada - War Diaries of the First World War
Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 30 September 1916
LIEUT. A. T. LINFORTH
An intimation was received last week from the Canadian Record Office, by
Mr. J. H. Linforth, of Gartymore, Leatherhead (Assist. Secretary to the
Pelham Committee, and a member the staff of the Home Counties Liberal
Federation), that his younger son, Lieut. Arthur T. Linforth, of the
Canadian Infantry, has been reported missing from the 16th inst.
Mr. Linforth has now received the
following letter from Major Lawless, the Officer Commanding his son's
battalion: "I exceedingly regret have to inform you the death of your
gallant son, Lieut. A. T. Linforth, who met his death by rifle or machine
gun fire, while leading his men in the open against the enemy's position
on the 16th inst., between five and seven o'clock in the evening. It was
battalion advance over difficult ground, and though many fell the
battalion reached its objective at the appointed time.
He is buried on the battlefield.
This noble work was done by the Rev. Captain Ridgway. It was impossible
bring his body back, and the burial in the field was carried out with
great danger to those who took part in it. In deepest sympathy, etc."
Lieut. Linforth was born in 1888,
and was educated at Woodhouse Grove School and Bradford Grammar School. In
March, 1911, went to Canada and took a Quarter-section farm in Alberta. As
soon the harvest of 1914 had been garnered he enlisted in the Canadian
Infantry and few months later was given his commission. He was in the 51st
Battalion which came to England last April, and six weeks later was sent
to France, and there was transferred to the 52nd Battalion. He was a
member of the National Liberal Club. His elder brother, Oliver, is a
Captain, in the 5th Norfolks.
Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 30 December 1916
ROLL OF HONOUR. BRAVE SURREY MEN
FALLEN IN THE WAR.
LEATHERHEAD AND DISTRICT
SEPTEMBER
LINFORTH, Lieut. Arthur T., Canadian Infantry, killed in action, son of
Mr. J. H. Linforth, Gartymore, Leatherhead.
His life
Arthur Linforth was born on 21 April 1888 in Nottingham, England.
His father was James Henry Linforth born 6 April 1855, from Lichfield,
Staffordshire. He worked as a Liberal Party Constituency Agent/Association
Secretary. He was a son of James Linforth (1824-1906) from Coleshill,
Warwickshire and Mary Smith (1819-1886) from Cambridge.
His mother was Mary Ann Tipping, born 5 November 1858, from Newbold on
Avon, Warwickshire: she was a daughter of Joseph Tipping (1825-1908)
and Mary Ann Bush (1834-1916).
Their marriage in January 1880 was registered in Warwick District.
Arthur's siblings were: Oliver James born 1881and Edith Mary Elizabeth
born 1882.
Arthur had lived at:
1891 Census: (age 2): 7 Corporation Oaks, Nottingham
1901 Census: (age 12): Cragg Cottage, Rawdon, Yorkshire [NNE of Bradford]
1911 Census (age 22): Arthur Linforth emigrated to Canada at the age of
22, departing the UK shortly before the 1911 Census, on 8 March 1911 for
Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the SS
Royal Edward of the Canadian Steamships Ltd. He was described
as a Farmer.
In the 1911 Census his parents were visiting the Greaver family in
Horsforth, Leeds.
The only connections so far found with Leatherhead are that his military
records show his next of kin was his father living at Gartymore, [Park
Rise], Leatherhead, Surrey, and the 30th September 1916 press article. The
Linforths have so far not been traced in the Electoral Registers in
Leatherhead before or after WW1. Arthur is among those named on the
Leatherhead Church Lads Memorial and so it appears that the Linforths
could have been in Leatherhead some time after 1901.
Arthur's probate record says he was "of Egerton, Alberta". Presumably this
is Edgerton, which is a very small community 150 miles SE of Edmonton.
By 1922 when the Canadian Army was corresponding with his parents they had
moved to Westfield Lodge, Ryde, Isle of Wight, possibly to be nearer their
daughter Edith who had married and lived in Ryde.
After WW1
Arthur's father died in 1943 and his mother in 1948.
In 1949 a Cenotaph was erected in Edgerton to commemorate those who had
died in the two World Wars and his name appears on it.
Arthur Linforth is also remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of
Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
Ladies War Shrine, Leatherhead Parish
Church
Church Lads Brigade Memorial
Tryptich, All Saints Leatherhead
Surrey
in the Great War
Canadian
Virtual War Memorial
Canadian
First World War Book of Remembrance
Cenotaph, Edgerton Alberta
the website editor would like to add
further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family
last updated 5 Nov 20