Name
Loftus George Levett
16/10/1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/11/1914
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Leading Seaman
218265
Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Good Hope"
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
Panel 1.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial to the missing at sea.
UK & Other Memorials
St Ippolyts Village Memorial, Roll of Honour, St Ippolyts Church
Pre War
Loftus was born on the 18th October 1885, in Bramshott, Hampshire. The son of Loftus Albert Levett and Alice Levett (Nee Small). He was one of nine children. The 1891 Census records Loftus aged 5, at school and living with his parents, 3 brothers and sister Alice 3, in Golden Ball Street, Petersfield, Hampshire. The 1901 Census records him as George Loftus Levett aged 15, still living with his parents, 2 sisters and 5 brothers at The Ferns, Grayshott, Headley, Alton, Hampshire.
Loftus enlisted in the Royal Navy on 16 October 1903, signing on for 12 years, he was given the Service Number 218265, joining the Training Ship “HMS Vincent” as a Bugler. The 1911 Census records him as George Loftus aged 25, single and still in the Royal Navy and stationed in Portsmouth. His address is given as Sailors Rest, 74-174 Commercial Road, Buckingham Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire. In 1912, Loftus Married Kate Hawkins from St Ippolyts, Herts, the daughter of Charles and Annie Hawkins of St Ippolyts, Herts. She was one of seven children. The 1911 Census gives her occupation as a Domestic Cook. Loftus and Kate had one son Percy Loftus Levett born in St Ippolyts in 1913.
Wartime Service
On the outbreak of War, Loftus was still serving in the Royal Navy aboard “HMS Good Hope” a Drake-Class Armoured Cruiser. Which he had joined on the 12th May 1914.
Loftus died on the 1st November 1914, when his ship was sunk off the Chilean coast during the Battle of Coronel with the loss of all hands. “HMS Monmouth was also sunk with the loss of all hands, a Combined loss of 1600 lives.
Additional Information
On some documents the name is spelt Levett, on others Levitt.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Stuart Osborne
