Name
Bernard Lofts
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/05/1915
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1966
Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
6th Bn. (attached 8th Bn.)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 4
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Grammar School Memorial,
Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance, Amersham War Memorial, Buckinghamshire,
King's Baptist Church Memorial, Amersham, Buckinghamshire,
St Mary's Church Memorial, Amersham, Buckinghamshire
Pre War
Bernard was born on the 20th of April 1891 in Highbury the son of Alfred and Isabel (nee Hicks) Lofts. In 1901 the family including six children, two servants, and two visitors were in Rickmansworth High Street.
Alfred was a Grocer and Provision Merchant. Bernard attended Watford Boys Grammar School from October 1900 to July 1903 and then Bethany House School, Goudhurst. He was apprenticed to the drapery trade in Uxbridge and successively employed by Eaden and Lilley, Cambridge; Hitchcock Williams, St Paul’s Churchyard; C Jenner and Company, Edinburgh. In 1911 he was a Shop Assistant (Drapery), together with many other shop workers, at 35 Bridge Street, Cambridge. His family was still in Rickmansworth High Street in 1911, but by the time of his death were at “Cranford”, Chesham Road, Amersham.
Bernard’s younger brother, Wilfred, was killed on the 9th of August 1918.
Wartime Service
Enlisted in Edinburgh.
The 6th battalion was still in Edinburgh when Bernard died so he was presumably attached to 8th Battalion much earlier, possibly soon after he enlisted on the 2nd of September 1914. 8th Battalion landed Le Havre on the 5th of November 1914 joining 22nd Brigade 7th Division. They saw action at the Battles of Neuve Chapelle and Aubers, and then Festubert 15th to the 25th of May 1915, where Bernard was killed. Festubert was in effect, a second phase of a failed attack on Aubers Ridge. Success on the first day was limited and heavy casualties incurred. At 3.15 am on the 16th the 7th Division attacked on a 850 yard front with 22nd Brigade on the right attacking across Duke’s Road towards the School House and the Northern Breastworks (a German communication trench). Despite machine gun fire causing many casualties the trench system was reached.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“LOFTS, BERNARD. School period: October, 1900, to July,1903. Private, 6th Royal Scots. Went to France, October, 1914. Killed in action at Festubert, 16th May, 1915.”
Acknowledgments
Mike Collins
