No.15227, Private, Claude LOFTS
Aged 25
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Claud LOFTS was born in Thurston on 18th March 1893 (Stow Q2-1893 4A:812), son of George Edward and Annie LOFTS (née WALLAKER).
1901 census...Aged 8, he was at Barton Road, Thurston with his father George E LOFTS [40] railway signalman born Higham; his mother Annie [40] born Rougham; brothers George H [12] and Ernest B [4]; sisters Agnes A [10], Beatrice [5] and Evelyn R [1].All the children were born in Thurston. 1911 census...Aged 18, he was a house boy servant at Girton House School, Ealing. His parents were still at Barton Road, Thurston with his brothers George H (railway shunter), Ernest B (house boy) and Frederick S {4]; sister Evelyn |
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He enlisted in Walham Green, Fulham, apparently adding two years to his age.. His legatee was his mother The battalion was in trenches near Ovillers at the start of the infamous First Day of the Somme.The war diary says:- "1/7/16 - The battalion attacked at 7:30 am, having on its left the 8th Y and L (York and Lancaster), on its right the 2nd Lincolns.In support to our battalion were the 11th S.F. Below is set forth copy of statement made consequently in reporting action to 70th Brigade - "During the preliminary bombardment our losses from hostile shell fire were considerable, estimate them at 10 % of the whole strength. The first two waves leaving our trenches just before 7:30 am reached the German lines with only slight loss. The remaining waves lost heavily in NO MANS LAND from M.G. fire from both flanks. I estimate their losses before they reached the German front line as 60 %. No casualties occurred from our own artillery. The German wire offered no obstacle. Our men were soon mixed up with those of the 8th Y and L, 9th Y and L, 11th SF and 2nd Lincolns , and severe fighting took place for the second German trench, which several times changed hands. Several of our men penetrated at one time the third line. At the second and third lines we were held up by Machine Guns. The enemy relied throughout almost entirely on Machine Guns and Boms, very little on rifles and bayonets. At about 8:30 am the order "Retire" was passed round, possibly originating from the enemy and our men were thereafter organised and rallied by officers of 2nd Lincolns or our NCOs and sometimes by men, returned to the attack, time after time, fighting for the second and third lines. The last man of this battalion to leave the German lines left at about 6 pm and it is thought that there were none of our men being in the German second line. Very few of our officers reached the German trenches. The Germans were many times observed sniping and bombing our wounded. Our Battalion went into action with 25 officers, 1 MO and 659 other ranks. Of these, the M.O. and 110 other ranks have reported to the Battalion. The above statement has been put together from evidence taken from N.C.O.s and men only, no officer taking part in the operation being available. Signed J L Boman, Captain Commanding 8th Bn K.O.Y.L.I. During the night the Battalion was withdrawn to LONG VALLEY. CWGC have 282 of the battalion killed that day, 80 have known graves, the rest are named on the Thiepval memorial.
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