In Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 19718 Private Albert Lofthouse serving with the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 27/01/1916.
Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-
Albert Lofthouse was one of the eight sons of Norton on Tees innkeeper William Lofthouse and his wife Grace (nee Hodgson). Born in the first quarter of 1888 he was brought up in the Highland Lad public house on Norton High Street along with his brothers John James, Frederick, William, Archibald, Herbert, Alexander Septimus and Robert.
His father died in 1901 shortly after his retirement as an innkeeper and the family moved to live in Craister Road, Stockton on Tees. By 1911 Grace and four of the boys, Albert, Alexander, Robert and William were living at 7 Dean Road, Tyne Dock and Albert was working as a sinker at a local coal mine.
Albert married Jane Ann Thornton on 26th April 1913 at Durham Register Office and they went on to have two sons, Frederick William born on 14th July 1913 and the son he never saw, Albert, on 9th May 1916. The family then lived at Catherine Street, Bearpark Colliery where Albert was working.
On 15th September 1914 26 year old Albert was at the recruiting office in Durham and signed up for the duration of hostilities as Private 19718 Lofthouse of the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Undertaking basic training with no uniforms and dummy rifles near Aylesbury, they moved to billets near High Wycombe in December where training intensified. After moving again in July to camp near Aldershot the Battalion arrived in France on 11th September 1915 as part of the 21st Division. Just two weeks later they were heavily involved at the Battle of Loos and then spent winter in the trenches at Armentieres.
Albert died at 64th Field Ambulance on 27th January 1916 from multiple wounds received in action. After his death his widow and children moved to live on Newcastle Road, Crossgate Moor, Durham.
One of his younger brothers, Archibald Lofthouse was killed in action in WW1, and older brother Frederick in WW2.
Albert Lofthouse is remembered in the D.L.I Book of Remembrance page 14.
