Thomas Martin Loftus

King's Shropshire Light Infantry

Personal Details

Born: In 1886 in Crossmolina, County Mayo, Ireland. (the records differ as to his year of birth which could have been as early as 1874)

Family: He was the son of  Michael and Ellen Loftus. He married Emily Clewley on 8 March 1909 at St. George`s Roman Catholic Church, Whitchurch, Shropshire. They had ten children – Alice, Mary Ellen, Ann Catherine, Norah, Mary Jane, Josephine, Margaret, John T, William P and Bernard.

Residence: In 1911 he and his family were living at 5 Castle Hill, Whitchurch, Shropshire.  On his Attestation document an address of 8 Dodington, Whitchurch was given for him. By 1939 he was living at 30 George Street, Whitchurch. This continued to be his home until his death in 1951.

Employment: He was a farm labourer.

Died: In 1951 in Whitchurch, Shropshire and buried in Whitchurch Cemetery on 30 November 1951, aged 77.

Military Details

Regiment: King’s Shropshire Light Infantry

Rank: Private

Service Number: 18911

Date of Enlistment: 14 September 1915

Date of Discharge: 20 September 1916

Reason for Discharge: No longer physically fit for war service

Medals and Awards

Thomas was awarded the Silver War Badge number 505799 on 15 October 1920

Silver War Badge

Great War History Hub Whitchurch Shropshire Medals Front Image

The Silver War Badge was issued in the United Kingdom and the British Empire to service personnel who had been honourably discharged due to wounds or sickness from military service in World War I. The badge, sometimes known as the "Discharge Badge", the "Wound Badge" or "Services Rendered Badge", was first issued in September 1916, along with an official certificate of entitlement.


 


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

We want to make sure you're human! * Time limit is exhausted. Please reload the CAPTCHA.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.