Harry Reginald Toft was born in 1892 in Redditch, Worcestershire, the fifth of the six children of the Reverend John Toft (b.1851) and Mary Ann Toft née Farnsworth (1853-1907). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1892 in the Alcester registration district, Worcestershire.
In the 1901 census he is shown as living in High Street, Ramsey, Huntingdonshire (now Cambridgeshire), with his parents and five siblings: John Farnsworth Toft (1882-1946); Emily Marienne Toft (1884-1905); Lillian Toft (1895-1961); Alice Edith Toft (1890-1969) and Elsie Mary Toft (b.1895). His father was described as a Wesleyan Minister. His brother John was shown as a chemist's assistant and his sister Lillian as a pupil teacher.
He was described as a bank clerk in the 1911 census, boarding at 24 Rose Hill, Harrington, Cumberland (now Wokington, Cumbria), the home of a widow called Sarah Williamson and her two daughters.
He was living in Silloth, Cumberland (now Cumberland, Cumbria) and was a clerk at the London Joint Stock Bank at Silloth when he enlisted in Wigton, Cumberland (now Cumberland, Cumbria), as a Private in the 26th (Service) Battalion (Banker's), Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), service number B/19761. He entered France on 4 May 1916 and was killed in action, aged 23 years, on 7 June 1916. His body was buried in Row B, Grave 4, in the Hyde Park Corner (Royal Berks) Cemetery, N365, 7782 Comines-Warneton, Belgium.
Probate records confirm that he had lived in Silloth, Cumberland and that when probate was granted on 22 July 1916 to his brother-in-law, Henry Baldwin, who was a schoolmaster, his effects totalled £360-2s-6d. His army effects totalling £1-9s-0d were sent to his sole executor, Henry Baldwin, on 26 September 1916 who was also sent his £3-0s-0d war gratuity on 28 November 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is commemorated as Harry R. Toft on the City and Midland Bank WW1 memorial at 8 Canada Square. London, E14. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
He would seem to be incorrectly commemorated as 'Private J Toft, Royal Fusiliers', on the Silloth War Memorial in the Churchyard of Christ Church, Criffel Street, Silloth, Cumbria, CA7 4BZ.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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