Name
Reginald Loft Glennerster
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/05/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
CH/17960
Royal Marine Light Infantry
1st Bn. Royal Naval Division.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SEDAN (ST. CHARLES) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
345
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial,
St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey,
St Paul’s Church Memorial, Bushey,
Wesleyan (Bushey & Oxhey Methodist) Church Memorial, Oxhey
Pre War
Born in Bushey on 15 March 1896, Reginald Loft Glennerster was the son of William Loft and Florence Mary (née Allen) Glennerster of 27, Vale Road, Bushey. His parents were married in 1895 in the registration district of Watford and both died in Bushey; William in 1935, aged 74, and Florence, aged 75, in 1946.
His parents married 1895 in the Watford district. William died 1935 in Bushey, Herts, aged 74, and was buried 23 January at St James’, Bushey; Florence died 1946 in Bushey aged 75, and was buried 31 December, also at St James.
On the 1901 Census, Reginald was age 4 and living in Bushey with his mother and one sibling.
At the 1911 Census, Reginal was age 14, still at school and living at 27, Vale Road, Bushey with William Loft (age 57, working as a Clerk), Florence Mary (age 38), Doris (daughter age 13), William’s two brothers, Robert (married, age 40 a cowman), Frederick James (age 35, a labourer) and a nephew, Augustus Henry Pratt (a milkman). Apart from Florence, who’s birthplace is given as Watford, they were all shown as born in Bushey.
Wartime Service
Reginald enlisted on 26 May 1913 in London as Private CH/17960 with the 1st Royal Marines Battalion, Royal Naval Division. He was recorded as aged 17 and employed as a news-vendor living at 27, Vale Road, Bushey.
Based at Chatham, he served on a number of ships, including the pre-dreadnought class battleships, HMS Canopus and Victorious, the depot ship HMS Vulcan, the armed troopship HMS Hecla, and HMS Ophir, which was an ocean liner that served as the royal yacht between 1901 and 1915 when it requisitioned by the Admiralty.
He was embarked with the Royal Marine Brigade on 15 December 1917 and drafted for the British Expeditionary Force on 4 February 1918, joining the 1st battalion of the Royal Marines. He was reported missing on 24 March 1918 and died of disease, aged 22, on 22 May 1918 whilst a prisoner of war.
He was buried at the Sedan (St Charles) Communal Cemetery in France and is commemorated on the Bushey Memorial. Also at St James’ Church (where his name is given as Glenister) and on the memorials at Bushey & Oxhey Methodist Church and at St Paul’s Church, Bushey.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and Star medals.
Additional Information
His pension record card gives his mother as the dependant, living at 61, Vale Road Bushey.
There is a brief article about Reginald in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 18 May 1918, and a Death announcement in the issue dated 21 September 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 31 May 1919.
Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH online via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
