Name
William Richard Lofty
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/03/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
13384
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHAPELLE BRITISH CEMETERY, HOLNON
I. D. 13.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial
St. Mary's Church Memorial, Rickmansworth
Pre War
In the 1901 census the family is recorded as living at Harefield Moor. The father William Lofty is aged 42 and a labourer at the cement works. The mother Elizabeth is aged 41. Emily E is aged 21 and works at the asbestos mill. George is 19 and works as a labourer at the cement works. John is 17 and works as a labourer at the cement works. James is 15 and works as a carter on a farm. Ellen is 12, Charles 11, William 8, Percy 6, Daisy M 3 and Rose 1. All the children were born in Harefield.
Recorded as enlisting in Marylebone, London.
Wartime Service
Killed in action near Roupy during the second day of the German spring offensive at St. Quentin on 22nd March 1918.
The German Crown Prince had ordered that the Tertry Road should be reached by his troops, which involved the seizure of the Holnon plateau. On 21st March, the first day of the attack - the Battle of St. Quentin - the 2nd Bedfords held their entire battle zone for the whole day, having given up their front line positions early on and concentrated on the second line of defence. On the following day this defence collapsed at the left and right hand of the division and was pushed back.
The 2nd Bedfords, who were holding the front of the Battle Zone, suffered severe losses in a very heavy attack, including Private Lofty.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Robert and Sally Williams
