Private Thomas Hermann Lindburg / Girvin 157051, 3035, 241410

Thomas Herman Lindburg / Girvin

This was a puzzle, he is one of the last men to be identified and it was only due to a breakthrough by Kathy Donaldson that I found him at all. 

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

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.

A check of earlier records shows that his mother was indeed unmarried at the time of his birth as she 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 of Brassey Street. Hermann was a mariner. 

Harriet Marian's earlier life is unclear from the records, her parents were married 31st May 1868, her father's full name was Knutt Hermann Lindburg or Lindbury, aged 27 and a mariner, his father was Elias Lindbury, a carpenter. Her mother's name was Harriet Higgins, she was 18 years old and her father James Higgins was a shipwright. Both addresses were 'Mann St'. Harriet Marian was born in 1874, and a sister Martha Ellen Hodson Lindburg was born in 1878. 

The 1881 census shows no trace of Herman or Harriet (mother) and both daughters were enumerated at the house of their grandmother Ann Higgins. 

The 1891 census shows no trace of Herman or Harriet (mother) and both daughters were enumerated at the house of  John Simpkins, they are described as his neices but due to Ann Higgins being present as his sister, it would appear that he was actually their grand-uncle. 

Thomas Lindburg/Girvin was born in 1895 as shown above. 

In the 1901 census there is no Harriet Lindburg, but there is a Harriet Girvin aged 26 and married (but with no husband at home) and two sons, Thomas Girvin aged 5 and William Girvin aged 3.

In the 1911 census Thomas Girvin, aged 40, was the head of the household at 13 Brassey Street with his wife Harriet Girvin, Thomas Herman Lindburg aged 15 (son), William Girvin aged 13 (son) and Reginald Broad Lindburg (nephew) aged 2. Thomas and Harriet say they have been married for 14 years and have had 2 children, one surviving. 

In 1915 Harriet Marian Lindburgh and Thomas Girvin were married at St Nicholas Church, Liverpool. Bride's father Herman Lindburgh (deceased) and one witness Martha Ellen Lindburgh. 

So, Thomas and Harriet had lied about being married, it is possible that Thomas really was the father of Thomas Herman. In 1901 Harriet listed his name as Girvin so we can assume that is the name he went by. In 1911 either he had reverted to his real name or Thomas Girvin was more conscientious when filling in the census forms.  Thomas Herman used his real name of Lindberg to enlist but his family had him added to the memorial as Girvin.

Pension records show that claims were made by his mother and by Lily Barrow, the mother of his illegitimate child. Her address was in Blackpool, the 6th Battalion KLR did spend some time training at Blackpool so we can speculate that perhaps that is how they met. 

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 and with the Machine Gun Corps 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. 

Information on the King's Liverpool Regiment database at the Museum of Liverpool shows that he served with the 2/6th KLR with the service number 241410

Death and Commemoration

Thomas Lindburg died of wounds on 27th October 1918 whilst serving with the MGC. This means it is likely he was wounded during the Battle of the Selle which was part of the final advance on Picardy in the Hundred Days Offensive of the end of the war. 

There is an interesting short explanation of the Battle of the Selle here by the Western Front Association.  

Thomas Lindberg is buried in Awoingt Cemetery, Awoingt is a village near Cambrai. 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 Casualty Clearing Stations which were posted in the area. As we know that Thomas Lindberg died of wounds it is likely that he died in one of these CCSs.

Thomas Lindberg's name does not appear on the Hall of Remembrance at Liverpool Town Hall.