Name
Alfred Frederick Lofts
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/05/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
55708
Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery
94th Brigade
'B' Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DARTMOOR CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT
I. B. 24.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial,
St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey,
Diocese - Book of Remembrance, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans,
Diocese of St Albans - ROH, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans
Pre War
Alfred Frederick Lofts was the elder son of Walter and Selina Kate Lofts, who had two adopted daughters and two sons. Alfred’s birth was recorded in the registration district of Hendon in the third quarter of 1893. His parents were married in 1888 at St Mary’s, Watford.
At the time of the 1901 census, the family was living at 7, Nelson Road in Whitstable, Kent. His father was aged 35 and working as a bricklayer and his mother was 31 years old. Alfred was aged 7 and had three siblings, Martha Jane, Gertrude and Walter Alva whose ages were 10, 8 and 6 years respectively. The birthplaces for the family were given as Cambridge for Walter (Snr.), Sarratt in Herts. for Kate, Kilburn in London for Martha, Kennington in London for Gertrude, Kensal Rise in London for Alfred and Edmonton in London for Walter.
By the time of the 1911 census the family had moved to 71 Greenfield Road in South Tottenham. Walter was still employed as a bricklayer and Alfred was working as a contractor’s clerk. Also present was Arthur Campbell, aged 3, who was recorded as a visitor.
Wartime Service
Alfred enlisted at Shoreditch, London as Gunner 55708 in the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery, giving his residence as Drayton Park. He served in western Europe and was killed in action, aged 22, on 10 May 1916. He was buried at Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt in France. He is commemorated on the Bushey memorial, at St James’ Church and on the family grave in Bushey churchyard.
The Register of Soldier’s Effects records him as having served in ‘B’ Battery of the 94th Brigade and identifies his beneficiary as his father, Walter. He was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. His pension record cards name Selina Kate of 42 Battledeans Road, Highbury as his dependant and records her as “wholly impaired”. The address is subsequently given as 107, Herkomer Road, Bushey.
Additional Information
Alfred is also commemorated on the family plot in Bushey (St. James) Churchyard, his inscription reads:
"ALSO IN MEMORY OF HIS SON FREDERICK JILLED IN ACTION MAY 10. 1918. AGED 22 YEARS"
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
