George Robert Charles Delmar Lindley

[deano]

Lokking for a Northants expert, i know one on here but hate putting on them (stebie) !

I have this chaps MIC and a photograph. Also a bit of background on him. Son of rear Admiral Lindley.

Was with East Kents, POW 1917, off to India in 1919.

I've never looked for officers records before and would like a few pointers if thats ok.

I think he might have had some WW2 service too but might be wrong.

regards

Dean.

[Stebie9173]

There is a book fair with my name on it in a minute - but your starter for ten....

(Photo plus short bio)

Capt G R C D Lindley 2nd Btn Colchester 1919

Son of Rear Adml Lindley of Watersend, Temple Ewell, Devon.

2Lt on probation Aug 1914 with 3rd Btn East Kents. Resign commission (under para 115 Regs for Officers of Special Reserve, 17.2.15) 3rd Btn East Kent Reg.

Cadet from the Royal Military College appointed 2Lt to 1st Btn in August 1915 and went to France to join 2nd Btn in Sept 1916 and was promoted to Lt in November 1916. In hospital 5th Dec 1916 rejoining the Btn on 4th Jan 1917.

Commanded A Coy at Frecnencourt Jan 1917. Acting Capt whilst in command of A Coy Missing - POW 10/7/1917

Sailed with 2nd Btn from Liverpool for India on 24th Oct 1919. He was promoted to Captain on 28th Nov 1921 and as Capt joined the 1st Btn in Feb 1925 from the 2nd Btn.

Address Hillside, 249 Dover Rd Folkstone in 1924

Format : monochrome photograph

Rights info: no known restrictions on publication.

Location of collection: Northampton Museum & Art Gallery www.northampton.gov.uk/museums

Part of: Northamptonshire Regiment Collection

Reference number:M0000120

The date he was taken POW was the date of the Battle of the Dunes where the 1st battalion was captured (yes, all of it) rather than the 2nd, so there is a gap or two in the mini bio on the Regimental Museum site.

EDIT: The bio is correct apart from "went to France to join 2nd Btn in Sept 1916" should read 1st Battalion...

WO338 index shows "Lindley, Geo. Robt. Chas. Delmar, Northamptonshire Regiment, 2/Lt & Capt. "Old No. 128648" and post-war file reference "P/10262" which means he did likely have post war service and his records have not been released to the National Archives yet.

Steve.

[deano]

Hello Steve, as always excellent. When you say his papers not released to National Archives yet, does that mean they are with the MOD?

regards

Dean.

[Stebie9173]

Yes, his records should be held by the MOD, with access restricted to next of kin only.

Steve.

[deano]

Thanks again Steve,

Dean.

[Stebie9173]

Dean,

I've done a little more digging and put together an expanded biography:

Captain George Robert Charles Delmar Lindley

George Robert Charles Delmar Lindley was born on 4 November 1897 in Southsea, Hampshire, the only son of Rear Admiral George Robert Lindley and Mrs Kate Louisa Lindley, of Watersend, Temple Ewell, Dover.

George’s father, George Robert Lindley, C.B., was born in 1850, the son of Robert C Lindley (a civil engineer) and Mrs Bessie Lindley of Mansfield, Derbyshire. George Robert began training as an officer in the Royal Navy as a boy and graduated from HMS Britannia in October 1863. George Senior served on several ships throughout his career – as a Lieutenant aboard HMS Achilles (where he took part in the Egyptian campaign of July 1882, being awarded the Egypt 1882 medal and Khedive’s Star), as Captain of HMS Curacao, HMS Blanche, HMS Thetis, HMS Melpomene (on voyages to South Africa and India), and of HMS Marathon. It was whilst Captain of HMS Blanche that Captain Lindley took part in operations off Zanzibar in the early 1890s. Between 1891 and 1892, HMS Blanche patrolled the Zanzibar shipping routes on anti-slavery patrols, and then, in August 1893, Captain Lindley sailed HMS Blanche into the Inkonumbi Estuary and led a Naval Brigade overland through the jungle against Fumo Umar ibn Ahmad, the sultan of Witu (Swahililand). For his part in the expedition he was appointed as a Companion of the Order of the Bath. Captain Lindley retired in 1900, and was appointed as a Rear-Admiral in 1905. He died on 1st August 1918, whilst his son was still a prisoner of war.

In 1896, at the age of 46, Captain Lindley married Kate Louisa Windebank, the twenty-six year old daughter of James Windebank, a shipwright, and Mrs Elizabeth Windebank, of Southsea. George and Kate had two daughters, Kathleen Lilian W. Delmar (1899) and Lilian Catherine “Eileen” (1900), and two sons, George Robert Charles Delmar (1897) and Edward Rodney Delmar Lindley (born on 2nd May 1902) who died as a baby.

George Robert Charles Delmar Lindley joined the Army at the outbreak of the Great War, and was commissioned as a Special Reserve Officer in the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) on 15th August 1914. Having spent several month training with the Special Reserve, he resigned his Special Reserve Commission on 17th February 1915 and transferred to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst with a view to seeking a commission in the Regular Army. Passing out of the Royal Military College, George Robert Charles Delmar Lindley was commissioned as a Regular Second Lieutenant on 11th August 1915.

It was a year after his commission that Second Lieutenant Lindley went overseas. He embarked to France on 6th September 1916, and joined the 1st Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment whilst they were in trenches near High Wood on 10th September 1916. George joined the battalion just before a period of rest, though he did one tour in the front line at High Wood between 25th and 28th September 1916 before the battalion headed to billets and then on to a period of training back at Acheux. The battalion returned to the line at Eacourt L’Abbaye on 22nd November 1916, by which time George Lindley had been promoted to Lieutenant on 4th November 1916.

Only a few weeks into his time with the 1st Battalion, Lieutenant Lindley had to be evacuated sick to hospital where he stayed for about a month over Christmas 1916, until rejoining the 1st battalion on 4th January 1917. Within days of rejoining, Lt. Lindley left the battalion again on 7th January 1917, this time to attend the Divisional Bombing School along with 2/Lt Borrow & 110 Other Ranks.

It is believed that Lieutenant Lindley served in “A” Company during his time with the 1st Battalion in later 1916 and early 1917. He was appointed as an acting Captain whilst in command of “A” Company of 1st Battalion from 10th April 1917 to 30th June 1917 (the official date of his relinquishment, though he was actually in command up until the 10th July 1917.

On the 10th July 1917, the 1st Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment were stationed in makeshift trenches in the dunes at Nieuport Bains. The position, on the far side of the Yser River, was intrinsically vulnerable, and it had not taken the Germans long to decide to seize the position using a heavy bombardment of high explosive and gas shells followed by a lightning assault by stormtroops, armed with rifles, grenades and flammenwerfer. The position of the 1st Northamptons lay between that of the 2nd King’s Royal Rifle Corps (who had their left on the sea’s edge) and the Geleide Creek. Subjected to a bombardment that lasted from 5am until 7pm, the trenches in the dunes, which had been of poor quality beforehand, were obliterated and no longer formed any sort of a defensive position by the time the German infantry attack commenced. That fact hardly mattered to the Northamptons, because by the time the bombardment abated the Germans had already found their way around the back of the King’s Royal Rifles via the beach and fell upon the rear of both battalions. Early in the battle, the three flimsy bridges that bridged the Yser had been destroyed, which meant that both battalions were completely cut off from the rest of the British lines. The combined force of 40 officers and 1,009 men was reduced to 3 officers and 55 men, of which the Northamptons contributed 9 men and no officers. Every single officer of the Northamptons in the dunes was missing that day, of which 18 officers of the battalion, including the O.C. of “A” Company – acting Captain George Lindley - were taken prisoner of war. Two officers, plus another attached to the Trench Mortar Battery were later reported as killed in action.

At least six officers of the Northamptons – Lieutenant Colonel The Hon. Denis Plantagenet Tollemache, Captain David Cameron Chisholm M.C., Captain Ernest Robert Crockett Aylett M.C., Second Lieutenant Eric Cecil Airth, Second Lieutenant Alan Roland McNally, Captain Edmund D T Hayes (attached to the battalion from the R.A.M.C.) and Captain George Robert Charles Delmar Lindley, ended up in the same prisoner of war camps – firstly at Karlsruhe before being moved on to Limberg a short time later. By February 1918 the group was at Freiburg near Baden in south-west Germany. Lieutenant Lindley spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war in Germany before being released in December 1918.

Unlike many of his fellow officers, George Lindley elected to stay in the Army and transferred to the 2nd Battalion in 1919. After being garrisoned at Colchester in early 1919, the 2nd Battalion sailed from Liverpool for India on 24th Oct 1919 when they departed on overseas service, the Army returning to peacetime duties throughout the Empire. George was appointed as an Assistant Embarkation Staff Officer for a time from 10th September 1920.

Lieutenant Lindley was promoted to substantive Captain on 28th Nov 1921. He was back in England in 1922, when he and was married to Alice M Joyce at Portsmouth. George and Alice settled in Folkestone at 249 Dover Road where they were living in 1924 and, still in the Army, George Lindley would have transferred to the 1st Battalion who were on home duty at that time. The 1st Battalion were unexpectedly drafted overseas in 1927 when civil war broke out in China and the Northamptons were sent to Shanghai. The battalion returned nearer to home at Malta in 1928, before Jewish/Arab tensions sent them to Palestine in 1929. A return to peace time duty sent the battalion to Moascar on the Suez Canal where George Lindley saw out his service in the Regiment.

Whilst in these final years of duty in the Middle East, George and Alice’s son George was born some time around 1930/1931. With George’s overseas duty complete, George, Alice and George Junior returned to England aboard the S.S. Barabool from the family’s home in Egypt arriving in London on 10th April 1932, with the intention to live at 69 Castle Street, Dover.

Captain Lindley was transferred to the Regular Reserve of Officers, retaining his rank of Captain, on 28th February 1933.

In the Second World War, Captain Lindley was appointed as a Brevet Major, but what active role he played in the war, if any, is unknown.

In the last years of his life George Lindley lived at “Chota Koti”, Quarry Road, Perranporth, Devon.

George Robert Charles Delmar Lindley died in 1976 in or near Truro, Cornwall, aged 78.

Group of 1st Northamptonshire Regiment officers at Freiburg:

Steve.

[Stebie9173]

The Report of Robert Philip Needham who was also captured at the Battle of the Dunes on 10th July 1917 shows the circumstances of George Lindley's capture:

Can I ask what you interest is in George Lindley, Dean? I would appreciate a copy of the photo you have, if you don't mind.

Steve.

[deano]

Speechless !!!

How did you ......

where did you .....

how did you manage .......

where was that from ......

Truly amazed at this Steve, thank you very much indeed.

The photo i have is the one from Flicker Steve, i googled his name and that popped up. I have a small name plate bearing his initials and last name and was looking for background info on him.

Best regards

Dean.

[Stebie9173]

It was a combination of Ancestry, the Times Online and the London Gazette plus some Googling..... Always glad to help with a Northamptonshire Regiment man! (and I nearly always learn more from the research myself)

Thinking a bit further about George Lindley's enlistments and embarkations overseas, I've realised I haven't taken George's age into account. His age would have been below the age of legal enlistment in 1914, so that may be the reason why he 1) resigned his Special Reserve commission, and/or 2) did not served overeas until 1916.

His ages at various times -

4 November 1897 - Date of birth (from Ancestry death index)

15 August 1914, age 16 year & 9 months - Enlisted in S.R.

17 February 1915, age 17 years & 3 months - Resigned commission

11 August 1915, age 17 years & 9 months - Commissioned into Regulars

5 September 1916, age 18 years & 10 months - Embarked to France

15 April 1917, age 19 years & 5 months - Appointed as an acting Captain

There are official despatches in the London Gazette for the actions in Egypt in 1882 and also in Wituland in 1893 (the latter with part written by George Robert Lindley, R.N. himself, if you need links to those).

Steve.

[deano]

Really glad you get something out of it Steve. Re links, yes please.

best regards

Dean.

[Stebie9173]

Here are George R C D Lindley's Gazette entries:

London Gazette 1-9-1914

War Office,

1st September, 1914.

SPECIAL RESERVE OF OFFICERS

INFANTRY

The undermentioned to be Second Lieutenants (on probation). Dated 15th August, 1914:

Claude Robert Charles Delmar Lindley, 3rd Battalion, East Kent Regiment.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28886/pages/6905

(with error on name)

London Gazette 16-2-1915

SPECIAL RESERVE

The dates of appointment and the order of precedence of Second Lieutenants shown in the undermentioned units are as now stated, and not as

previously notified in earlier Gazettes:

3rd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)

G. R. C. D. Lindley (on probation). Dated 15th August, 1914.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29070/pages/1566

London Gazette 23-2-1915

The undermentioned Officers resign their commissions, under paragraph 115, Regulations for Officers of the Special Reserve. Dated 17th February, 1915:

INFANTRY

G. R. C. D. Lindley, 3rd Battalion, East Kent Regiment

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29080/pages/1841

London Gazette 10-8-1915

War Office,

10th August, 1915.

REGULAR FORCES.

The undermentioned Gentleman Cadets from the Royal Military College to be Second Lieutenants:

Dated 11th August, 1915.

The Northamptonshire Regiment

Albert Owen Fred Winkler

George Robert Charles Delmar Lindley

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29258/pages/7904

London Gazette 16-12-1916

North'n. R.2nd Lt. G. R. C. D. Lindley to be Lt. 4th Nov. 1916

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29867/supplements/12310

London Gazette 9-5-1917

North'n R.Lt. G. R. C. D. Lindley to be acting Capt. 10th Apr. 1917

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30058/supplements/4447

London Gazette 21-8-1917

North'n R.The undermentioned relinquish the actg. rank of Capt.:

Lt. G. R. C. D. Lindley. 30th June 1917.

2nd Lt. (temp. Lt.) G. H. D. Metcalfe. 15th July 1917.

Lt. J. E. M. Pierson, M.C., Spec. Res. Bn., to be actg. Capt. whilst comdg. a Co. 15th July 1917.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30242/supplements/8631

London Gazette 13-6-1921

The undermentioned are granted temp. rank whilst holding appts. in India as follows:

As Capt.:

Whilst Asst. Emb. Staff Officers:

Lt. G. R. C. D. Lindley, North'n. R. 10th Sept. 1920.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32355/supplements/4719

London Gazette 9-12-1921

North'n R. Lt. G. R. C. D. Lindley to be Capt. 30th Nov. 1921

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32545/supplements/10082

London Gazette 28-2-1933

North'n R.Capt. G. R. C. D. Lindley retires on ret. pay. 28th Feb. 1933.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33916/pages/1360

REGULAR ARMY RESERVE OF OFFICERS

REGIMENTAL LIST

INFANTRY

North'n R.Capt. G. R. C. D. Lindley (ret. pay), to be Capt. 28th Feb. 1933, with seniority 26th Sept. 1920.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33916/pages/1361

London Gazette 2-2-1940

REGULAR ARMY RESERVE OF OFFICERS

REGIMENTAL LIST

North'n. R.

Capt. G. R. C. D. Lindley (10262) to be Bt. Maj. 1st Dec. 1939

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34783/supplements/649

London Gazette 12-3-1940

REGULAR ARMY RESERVE OF OFFICERS

INFANTRY

The undermentioned Capts. to be Bt. Majs.:

North'n R.

G. R. C. D. Lindley (10262). 1st Sept. 1939. {Substituted for the notifn. in the Gazette of 2nd Feb. 1940.)

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34809/supplements/1460

--------

On the Subject of Captain Lindley, R.N. (tenuously on topic as he was a naval officer who died during the war), this is the 1893 Despatch:

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26466/pages/7251

and the 1882 Despatch for the bombardment of Alexandria in which HMS Achilles was part:

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/25133/pages/3567

Various promotions for Captain Lindley R.N.:

1873: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/24020/pages/4329 (Lieutenant)

1886: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/25604/pages/3189 (Commander)

1893: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26422/pages/3980 (Captain)

1900: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27214/pages/4654 (Retirement)

1904: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27724/pages/6675 (Partnership dissolved)

1905: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27804/pages/4188 (Rear-Admiral)

Steve.

[deano]

Amazing Steve, thank you very much.

regards

Dean.