William LINFORD

22 June 1917

LINFORD – Pte. Wm. Linford, of the York and Lancaster Regiment, died of wounds in hospital at Boulogne, France, on June 10th, resided at Victoria Terrace, Bradley.

22 June 1917

BRADLEY SOLDIER DIES FROM WOUNDS

News was received on Thursday last that Pte. Wm. Linford, of the York and Lancaster Regiment, had died from gunshot wounds received in action. On Monday 11th, his wife got a telegram that he was in the General Hospital at Boulogne dangerously ill, suffering from wounds. He joined up on Nov. 13th last and went to France on Feb. 9th. Before enlisting he worked as farmer’s man for Mr. Thompson. He was 31 years of age. He leaves a widow and one child.

On Sunday morning a memorial service was held in the Wesleyan Chapel, conducted by Mr. Herbert Thornton, superintendent of the Sunday School, who at the outset of his address tendered to the widow, the fatherless child, and relatives the sincere sympathy of the congregation. Willie, he said, was of a quiet and unassuming disposition, and loved to come to God’s house and join in public worship, and it was fitting that they should pay tribute to his memory. It was only 22nd of last month that he wrote to Mr. Green saying that he was in the best of health and spirits and that they were having some lively times, but he was among a number of jolly young Christian fellows and that they had chapels to go to, in which the services were helpful, but still they were not like the dear little country place at home. The hand that so recently made the medium for conveying these kindly feelings is now stiff in death upon a foreign shore. Their hearts ached to think that our brave young fellows should be prematurely cut off, leaving desolate homes and hearts torn by the sad and sudden bereavement. Their sympathies also went out to Mrs. Hobson, who had had unofficial news of the loss of her son. Their friend, Pte. Harry Mawson had been missing since May 3rd, but they all cherished the fond hope that he is a prisoner in Germany, and that before long they would hear news of his well being. They all began to realise how terrible is the conflict in which they were engaged. Well they might cry out – why this awful carnage, why this pouring out of the life blood of the young manhood of the nation? Was something dearer than life at stake? They thanked God for the noble lives who in days gone by had laid down their lives to procure us the liberties which to-day was their common heritage. To-day we as a nation are called upon to take a similar stand and shed the heart’s blood, believing that the unbroken power of Germany involved a constant menace to every form of peaceful life. May some consolation come to those whose loved ones had laid down their lives in the belief that the cause for which they fought was righteous, that they yielded up their breath that the world might move towards the dawn of a brighter and holier day.

At the close of the service Mr. Chapman, the organist, played ‘O rest in the Lord.’

07 June 1918

In loving memory of Pte. Willie Linford, who died of wounds in Boulogne Hospital, June 10th, 1917.

It may be a soldier’s honour
To die at his country’s call,
But it’s hard to remember the glory
When we lose our one and all.

– From Wife, Child, Sister and Brother. 3, Rose Terrace, Bradley.