LANGFORD, Samuel

Samuel Langford was the son of James and Elizabeth Langford of 92 Bull Street, Brierley Hill. He was born in Pensnett and volunteered in Brierley Hill for the South Staffordshire Regiment. He was transferred to the 8th Glosters in the 19th Division which went to the Western Front in May 1915. They fought on the first day of the Battle of the Somme at Albert and La Boisselle, were unsuccessful at High Wood later in July and after a period of static trench warfare fought in the last battle on the Ancre in November. In the dreadful conditions they managed to reach the village of Grandcourt but there were many casualties. They included Private Samuel Langford who was killed on the 18th November. He was 19 years of age and is buried in Grandcourt Road Cemetery, Grandcourt (C 98) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials.