Remembering Today

[Terry Denham]

Here is Pte Langford's grave

The Personal Inscription reads....

He fought the good fight

and won the crown of glory

[delta]

thanx for the photo Terry;

I assume he died some considerable time after he was wounded

Stephen

[Terry Denham]

He died by drowning at Bexhill, Sussex.

[delta]

How sad; presumably he was making a steady recovery

Thanx for the info Terry

Stephen

[Terry Denham]

Stephen

There is no suggestion that he had been wounded. He either drowned while swimming for recreation, exercise or perhaps during training. Alternatively, it could have been a boating accident.

[delta]

Sorry Terry, I picked up from the CWGC site that he had been wounded at Ypres 1916.

Given his date of death, I assumed that he was not well enough to return to his unit

Name: LANGFORD, ELMER GEORGE

Initials: E G

Nationality: Canadian

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)

Unit Text: 14th Bn.

Age: 28

Date of Death: 08/04/1917

Service No: 23205

Additional information: Son of Mrs. William Langford, of Montmorency Falls, Quebec. Wounded at Ypres, 1916.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: L. D. P20.

Stephen

[jaywalker]

Terry, just to put me out of my misery, how do you know he drowned... JIM

[Terry Denham]

Jim

I have changed my reply to Jim's query as I was looking at the wrong record!!!

Langford is recorded as drowned in the original CWGC register for Sussex.

[SilverSoldier]

Pte Elmer George Langford. 14th Bn Canadian Infantry.

Rest In Peace.

Remembered With Honour.

Terry W.

[Flakdodger]

Better late than never I'm afraid. I have just Googled Elmer Langford and arrived at this thread. I will be mentioning him on a guided walk this Sunday 24 August 2014.

From the local press I can advise that Elmer was absent from parade on 30 December 1916 whilst stationed in Hastings. There the matter rested until his body was washed ashore near the Sackville Hotel, Bexhill on Sea on 08 April 1917. It was reckoned that he had been in the sea some two or three months. He was without socks and boots. He had on him correspondence including a letter from his Colonel commending him for services in the field. The inquest was adjourned for checks to be carried out by the police and the military. These checks failed to find anyone from his platoon who remembered him and the Sergeant in charge at the time was serving in France.

Dave