Resident of Golders Green killed serving in WW2.
Gerald Maurice Clive Toft was born in 1923, the elder son of Edmund Toft (1894-1941) and Violette Maud Hélène Toft née Duché (1895-1966). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1923 in the Marylebone registration district, London. His younger brother was Donald Maurice Toft (1926-2009). His father was a masseur & osteopath.
The London Gazette dated 15 June 1943 confirms that he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 23 April 1943 in the Royal Norfolk Regiment, service number 271324. Promoted to Lieutenant and serving in the regiment's 1st Battalion, he was killed in action, aged 21 years, on 7 June 1944 and his body was buried near where he fell.
Probate records confirm that his home address had been 2 Romney Close, London, NW11 and that when administration was granted on 6 March 1945 to his widowed mother, his effects totalled £210-12s-6d.
On 25 May 1945 his body was exhumed and reburied in Plot 10, Row G, Grave 8 in the La Délivrande War Cemetery, 37 Rte de Caen, 14440 Douvres-la-Délivrande, France.
He is commemorated as G. Toft on the Golders Green War Memorial, North End Road, junction with Finchley Road, London, NW11. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
