Canadian Soldier Of The First World War Identified

George Herbert Ledingham was a Canadian soldier who served in the First World War

The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces have confirmed the identification of a previously unknown grave as being that of Corporal George Herbert Ledingham, a Canadian soldier of the First World War. He was originally partially identified as an unknown corporal with the 43rd Battalion when he was buried in Canada Cemetery, Tilloy-lez-Cambrai, France.

George Herbert Ledingham was born on February 17, 1887, to Alexander Ledingham and Barbara Elizabeth Ledingham (née Paulin), in Aberdeen, Scotland. He worked as a teamster before enlisting on November 15, 1915, in Winnipeg, where he joined the 179th Battalion. One of his brothers, William Alexander Ledingham, also joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force – specifically, the 17th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery – and survived the war.

Private Ledingham’s unit sailed from Halifax on October 3, 1916. Shortly after his unit arrived in England, the 179th Battalion was absorbed into the 17th Reserve Battalion, which provided reinforcements for the front. As a result of the losses suffered in the preceding weeks, on November 13, 1916, Private Ledingham was posted to the 43rd Canadian Infantry Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), Canadian Expeditionary Force, in France and served with them until his death. In October 1917 Private Ledingham was awarded the good conduct badge; he was promoted to the rank of lance corporal and then corporal in September of the following year. Corporal Ledingham died on October 1, 1918, during the second phase of operations to secure the bridgeheads at Ramillies and Aire as part of the intense fight to take Cambrai, a major enemy transportation hub in northern France. He was 31 years old.

The Canadian Armed Forces has notified the family of Corporal Ledingham’s identification and is providing them with ongoing support. A headstone rededication ceremony will take place at the earliest opportunity at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Canada Cemetery in Tilloy-lez-Cambrai, France.

The Canadian Armed Forces Casualty Identification Program, within the Directorate of History and Heritage, identifies unknown Canadian service members when their remains are recovered. The program also identifies service members previously buried as unknown soldiers when there is sufficient evidence to confirm the identification.

“My thoughts today are with the family of Corporal Ledingham, a Canadian soldier of the First World War who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. The identification of Corporal Ledingham offers an opportunity for us all to remember the Canadian soldiers who served during the First World War. To the family of Corporal Ledingham, I and all Canadians are grateful for your ancestor’s courage and bravery. We express our everlasting appreciation of his service and sacrifice. Lest we forget.” The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence

“While the reality of the fighting on the Western Front left thousands of young men in unmarked graves, it’s important – even all these years later – that we not forget that each of them was a person with a name and a story when they died. Days like today remind us of that, and I’m glad that we’re now able to provide Corporal Ledingham with the recognition that he and all of his comrades deserved.” The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

George Herbert Ledingham is commemorated on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, erected in memory of Canadian soldiers killed in France during the First World War who have no known grave.

In May 2019, the Directorate of History and Heritage received a report from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission detailing the potential identification of Grave 32, Row C, Plot 2 in the Canada Cemetery, Tilloy-lez-Cambrai, France. Independent researchers had raised the possibility that this grave was that of Corporal George Herbert Ledingham. 

Following extensive archival research by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Directorate of History and Heritage, the identification was confirmed in November 2019 by the Casualty Identification Review Board, which includes representatives from the Canadian Forces Forensic Odontology Response Team and the Canadian Museum of History.