Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery | ||
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.128 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 25C GQS | |
| 4. Document: | New Zealand WW1 Masonic List | N.Z. | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Son of Henry Loftus and Marion Leah Jackson (his wife), of Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: New Zealand Engineers |
| Action : The First Battles of the Somme 1918 and associated actions |
21 March - 4 July 1918. The Battles of the Somme in 1918 were mostly concerned with stemming the German advance which started in March 1918 and which made considerable gains in the Somme/Arras sector. Utilising surplus troops which had become available following the surrender of Russia after the October Revolution, the Germans gambled on a massive campaign that could win the war in the west before the USA could bring its resources to bear. Initial gains were in places spectacular but eventually dogged resistance coupled with supply problems and sheer exhaustion closed down the battle. Other attacks were launched along the front to probe the Allied defences but the same pattern of initial gains followed by stalemate prevailed. British casualties were almost 345,000.
Detail :
26640 Sapper William Jackson Loftus, New Zealand Engineers, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Died of Sickness.
Embarked 23rd September 1916 arriving at destination 19th November, 1916 on HMNZT 65 (Vessel: Pakeha) as a Rifleman, 8th Reinforcements, 4th Battalion, H Company, New Zealand Rifle Brigade but must have transferred to the NZ Engineers.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Eden No. 1530 E.C. | New Zealand (North Island) |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
22nd June 1915 | 24th August 1915 | 28th September 1915 |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley