Thank you to Bernice Forsyth and Mary Day from Capel Local History Group for allowing Dorking Museum to publish their research. Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for further research.
William James Linfield was born in the 1st quarter of 1884 in Capel, to labourer and gardener John and Alice Linfield nee Stedman. He was baptised on 13rd April 1884 (Easter Day) at St John’s church in Capel. At the time of the baptism the family lived in Capel Street.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family were still living in Capel Street. John was working as a gardener and an artist in crayon work. Alice was at home looking after their children.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 3 Beare Green, Capel. John was working as a gardener and Alice was at home. The household further comprised of their children: railway clerk William and gardener Charles.
William married machinist Charlotte Seddon in the 3rd quarter of 1910 in Paddington, London.
Charlotte was born about 1887 in Hackney, London to chair & couch maker William Henry, born about 1843 in Bethnal Green, London and Rose Isabella, born about 1850 in Mile End, Middlesex.
At the time of the 1911 Census, William and his wife Charlotte lived at 73 Walterton Road, Paddington. The accommodation had two rooms. William was working as a railway porter.
William Linfield enlisted in Paddington into the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. He was a Private and his service number was: R/40422. At the time of his enlistment he lived in Harlesden.
At the time of his death William was part of the 16th Infantry Battalion, the Machine Gun Corps. He was a Private and his new regimental number was: 125255.
William was killed in an action on 4th April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive in France or Belgium.
He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme on panels 90 to 93. He received the British War and Victory medals.
William’s widow Charlotte Linfield received £5, 10s and 7d on 10th December 1918 and a further £3 on 29th of November 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.
Linfield Family History
William’s father John was born about 1854 in Shipley, Sussex to agricultural labourer James, born about 1815 in Billingshurst, Sussex and Frances, born about 1818 in Shipley, Sussex. John was baptised on 3rd of December 1854 in Shipley. His mother Alice Stedman was born about 1854 in Capel to carter Benjamin, born about 1823 and Mary, born about 1829, both in Capel. John and Alice married on 9th August 1879 in Capel.
William had three known siblings: Alice Mary born in the 3rd quarter of 1880; Constance Nellie born in the 1st quarter of 1882 and Charles John born in the 2nd quarter of 1886, all born in Capel.
At the time of the 1881 Census, the family lived in Capel. John was working as a railway labourer and Alice was at home looking after their daughter Alice.
At the time of the 1911 Census, William’s father, the widowed, John lived at 2 Rawson Cottages, Capel. The household further comprised of John’s daughter Constance and his mother in law Mary Stedman. John was working as a jobbing gardener.
| Born | Capel, Surrey |
| Lived | Paddington, London |
| Son of | John and Alice Linfield |
| Husband of | Charlotte Seddon |
| Regiment | 16th Infantry Battalion. Machine Gun Corps |
| Number | 125255 |
| Date of Death | 4th April 1918 |
| Place of Death | France |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action |
| Age | 32 |
| Memorial | Pozieres Memorial, France |
