157051 Private Thomas Herman Lindberg / Girvin, Machine Gun Corps
- Amanda T
- May 25, 2020
- 7 min read
Identification
This man presented a puzzle, he was one of the last men to be identified and I was able to identify him thanks to the help of Kathy Donaldson.
Kathy spotted a soldier named Thomas Herman Lindburg whose mother was named Harriet Girvin, they lived in Brassey St, Toxteth so were right by St James Church. It seemed possible that this was the soldier from the memorial but some further research was required to prove it.
Family Information
Our soldier's mother, Harriet Lindburg was born 19th February 1874 and christened Harriet Marion Lindburg 14th March 1875 in St Peter's Church, Liverpool. Her parents were Hermann Lindburg and Harriet Lindburg (formerly Higgins) of Brassey Street. Hermann was a mariner. Her father was most likely German as his name was Knutt Herman Lindburg.
In 1881 Harriet and her sister Martha were with their grandmother, no sign of their parents. The 1891 census also shows no trace of their parents and both sisters were enumerated at the house of John Simpkins, they are described as his neices but it would appear that he was actually their grand-uncle.
Our soldier, Thomas Herman Lindburg, was born on 3rd October 1895 in Liverpool. He was christened on 11th November 1895 in St Peter's Church, Liverpool. The christening record shows his mother Harriet Marian Lindburg of South Chester Street and no father. He was illegitimate.
There is no Harriet Lindburg in the 1901 census , but there is a Harriet Girvin aged 26 and recorded as married (but with no husband at home) and two sons, Thomas Girvin aged 5 and William Girvin aged 3.
In the 1911 census Thomas Herman Lindburg aged 15 was living at 13 Brassey St, Liverpool, he was enumerated as the son of Thomas and Harriet Girvin along with William Girvin aged 13 (son) and Reginald Broad Lindburg (nephew) aged 2. Thomas and Harriet claimed they had been married for 14 years and had 2 children, only one surviving.
In 1915 Harriet Marion Lindburgh and Thomas Girvin were married at St Nicholas Church, Liverpool. The bride's father was recorded as Herman Lindburgh (deceased) and there was one witness, her sister Martha Ellen Lindburgh. So, Thomas and Harriet had lied about being married in the 1911 census.
So the story of Thomas Herman Girvin/Lindburg's surname is complicated. He was christened Lindburg but in 1901 his mother called him Girvin so we can assume that is the name he went by at that time. In 1911 either he had reverted to his real name or his stepfather (possibly actual father?) Thomas Girvin was more conscientious when filling in the census forms and he was Lindburg. Thomas Herman used his real name of Lindberg to enlist but his family had him added to the memorial as Girvin.
Military Service
Thomas's service records have not survived but his medal card shows that he served with The King's (Liverpool Regiment) with the regimental number 3503. Information on the King's Liverpool Regiment database at the Museum of Liverpool shows that he also served with the 2/6th KLR with the service number 241410. The 6th KLR (Liverpool Rifles) was a Territorial Force (TF) Battalion and the two numbers show that Thomas enlisted before, and remained with them after, the early-1917 renumbering of the TF Battalions.
His Medal index Card shows that he also served with the Machine Gun Corps (MGC) with the regimental number 157051 and was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
His entry in UK Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919 adds that he was born in Liverpool and enlisted in Liverpool.
We know from the CWGC record that Thomas served with the 62nd MGC.
The war diary of this battalion shows that in Dec 1917 it was decided to organise the 4 MGC companies in each division in France into a Machine Gun Battalion. Certain officers were ordered to Machine Gun training and men from the Division could be earmarked for the Battalion, trained machine gunners came from the 201st Machine Gun Company to join the new Battalion.
The Battalion of the 62nd Division was to be the 62nd Machine Gun Battalion and it would have 4 companies of 16 guns each totalling 64 guns. Each M.G.Battalion would have A,B,C and D Companies and each Company would have No 1, No2, No2 and No4 sections (each with a machine gun). Typically in the British Army a Company was 80-250 men, the war diary for the 62nd MG Battalion shows that there were 10 officers per company at its formation on 9th March 1918.
As Thomas died of wounds on 27th October I have looked to the previous weeks in the diary for any indication of when he was wounded. The following dates are those that show any casualties:
20th October 1918 - First and third armies attacked between LE CATEAU and the SCARPE. 62nd Division attacked and captured SOLESMES, ST PYTHON and the high ground east of these villages. The attack started at 0200 hours without preliminary bombardment. The enemy was surprised by the early zero hour and many prisoners were caught in bed in cellars etc. The MG Battalion co-operated as follows. B and D Companies put down covering fire from zero to zero plus 40 minutes on LE PIGEON BLANC, ST PYTHIN, SOLESMES church area and Ranbury and SE outskirts of SOLESMES. “A” Company went forward with 186th to consolidate on capture of their objectives all guns reaching positions previously arranged despite heavy shelling. Two section crossed LA SELLE River south of SOLESMES and pushed forward to position along the Ry. Subsequently these guns were moved further forward to protect the right flank which was rather exposed owing to the fact that the flank division had not then secured its objectives. With minor alterations the guns remained in the same positions when the 186th Brigade departed consolidating this line. “C” Company were forward with the 185 Brigade at 0700 hours to the capture of the final objective. Two sections moving in rear of the 2/20 Londons near LE PIGEON BLANC came under point blank fire from a German field gun which was subsequently captured. Both officers, 2/Lt SHARPLES, and MCMILLAN were wounded. Two Other Ranks were killed and about 25 wounded. Touch was lost with the remnants of this section for some time and they did not actually come into action. One section remained with the reserve battalion west of SOLESMES. On success of operations being reported “B” Company was withdrawn to Division Reserve in QUIEVY and later “D” Company was also withdrawn. In the evening when it had been definitely established that “C” Company was not in a position to defend effectively the new line, two sections of “B” Company were ordered forward to the first line under 185 brigade. Later on this section was moved up. Orders were given to “C” Company to withdraw their scattered two sections and for the section on the right and in the reserve to withdraw at dawn on 23.10.18. Generally the night was spent in consolidating cleaning and digging in the line of the final objective which, though counter attacked was finally held. Signal communications were as per attached plan.
21st October 1918 - The advance was not resumed. “C” Company was withdrawn and returned to billets in QUIEVY where “D” Company was also billeted. “B” Company HQ and 185th Brigade HQ moved to ST PYTHON the positions of “A” and “B” Company guns remained materially unchanged. Enemy shelling was fairly heavy throughout the day but no infantry action followed. During the evening orders were sent up to “B” Company to lay all available guns on SOS lines in front of ROMERIES as concentration of enemy troops had been observed. Enemy general activity was marked – low flying planes being active. Weather was rather better. “D” and “C” companies were bathed and had change of clothes.
Orders received at 0200 hours 3rd Division was to go through 62nd Division during night 22/23 Oct to attack in early morning. “A” Company with 186 Brigade in support and “B” Company with 185 Brigade. First line were ordered to remain in position until zero hour on the 23rd the infantry were withdrawn during afternoon and evening. “C” and “D” Companies and personnel of Battalion HQ marched to billets in BEVILLERS. Battalion HQ remained at QUIEVY during night 22/23. Considerable hostile shelling throughout the day in SOLESMES, ST PYTHON and forward areas.
23rd October 1918 - 3rd Division attacked at 1320 hours. Owing to the hostile barrage “A” and “B” Companies did not attempt to withdraw until 0600 hours. “A” Company had some casualties but these were caused during enemy barrage falling through on SOS signal being sent up. By 1000 hours the Battalion was concentrated in BEVILLERS. The approx. total of casualties during this phase of the operations was 2 officers and fifty Other Ranks this was rather large in proportion to total casualties in the Division which were approx 450. This Divisions attack and that of the flank divisions (2nd and NZ) reported to be going on well.
C.S.M. Southgate, 1 Sgt and 25 OR reported to Battalion.
24th October 1918 - Battalion concentrated in billets at BEVILLERS. Companies resting and cleaning up. MAJOR HAGEAUSSENT proceeded to UK in substitution scheme. Division now in Corps Reserve.
25th October 1918 - Company training. Inspection of SBRs by Div Gen Officer. LT H G LANE to hospital.
26th October 1918 - Company training. Draft of 20 OR reported to Battalion. No further advance on corps front which is once more held by one division – the 3rd.
Machine Gunners were obvious targets for the enemy (true for both sides) and there were high casualty rates, from a total of 170,500 officers and men served in the British MGC, 62,049 were killed, wounded or missing.
Death and Commemoration
Thomas Lindburg died of wounds on 27th October 1918 whilst serving with the 62nd MGC. He is buried in Awoingt Cemetery, Awoingt is a village near Cambrai and close to the places mentioned in the war diary above (Solesmes, Quievy, Bevillers). The cemetery was used for about a month from the middle of October 1918. It holds 653 Commonwealth graves, mostly casualties from the 38th, 45th and 59th CCS’s (Casualty Clearing Stations) which were posted in the area. We know from the Register of Soldiers Effects that Thomas died in 45th Casualty Clearing Station which was at Awoingt.
Pension records show that Thomas Herman Girvin had an illegitimate child, the fact that the child's mother lived in Blackpool suggests this may have happened when he was billeted there during training with the Liverpool Regiment (this is just conjecture though).
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