Thank you to Patricia Brazier for the following research.
Albert was born on 22nd February 1898. His parents were Charles, a farm labourer and Alice (nee Searle). His parents married in Westcott in 1888.
In 1901 the family are living at Bushenbury farm in Brockham. Albert has four siblings: Charles aged 11, Gertrude aged 9, Elsie aged 7 and Alice aged 6 months.
In 1911 Census the family have moved to Felton’s Farm in Brockham. Charles Jnr, Gertrude, and Elsie have left home. Albert is now 13 and at school, he also has two more siblings: Evelyn aged 4 and Henry aged 2.
Albert enlisted into the Royal West Surrey Regiment along with three of his friends: Frederick Parsons, Charles Harding, and Benjamin Boxall at a recruiting meeting on Brockham Green in August 1914. He arrived in France in May 1915, in September of that year he was injured after being buried in a trench. He went home on leave in November of that year. He then returned to duty and was sent to Egypt where he stayed for two years. Whilst in Egypt he received a gun shot wound to his left thigh in March 1916 and a gun shot wound to his right thigh in December of the same year. He returned to France around June in 1918. Whilst in France he received a medal of proficiency in the use of a Lewis Gun. In his last letter to his family dated 30th August 1918 he said he would be home on leave in 5 days. He died on 6th September 1918.
Albert is buried in Plot 3 Row B grave No 50 in Tertincthun British Cemetery on the outskirts of Boulonge. This cemetery was primarily used for servicemen who died in the nearby Base Hospitals. His parents requested that “God grant him thine eternal rest” be put on his gravestone.
Sadly his three friends who enlisted at the same meeting also died. Frederick Parsons and Charles Harding in 1915 and Benjamin Boxall in 1917.
A BROCKHAM CORPORAL KILLED IN FRANCE
The deepest sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. C. Luff of Oakdene Road, Brockham, who on Saturday morning were informed that their second son, Corpl. Albert Luff, had been killed in France. The sad intelligence was conveyed to them in the following letter from Sergt. Sydney W. Vinter, dated September 10th: “By now I expect you have heard that your dear boy, Corpl. Albert Luff, has died of wounds at Boulogne. He was badly wounded by a shell, I believe (I was not there at the time) and was taken for dead. He came down in a motor ambulance unconscious, with no pain at all. He was such a jolly good fellow, I feel it so much myself; although not always with him I knew him very well and liked him very much. It may be some consolation to you to know that he was liked immensely throughout his company. Poor Albert, he has left us forever. May the good God comfort you in your great sorrow. My mother wants me back so I can sympathise deeply with you. Albert always did his duty and was so cheerful and willing. Write to me if you feel like it, as a mother to a son.” Corpl. A. Luff was one of three lads who enlisted at the first recruiting meeting on Brockham Green in August 1914; his two mates have both made the great sacrifice vis : Pte. Charles Harding, The Queen’s, Nov. 21st 1915, and Corpl. Ben Boxall, The Queen’s, was killed on July 22nd 1915. Corpl. Luff was sent to France in May, 1915, and was severely injured in September through being buried in a trench from which he with great difficulty extricated himself. He was at home on leave in November of the same year, and in January 1916, was sent to Egypt. He was over two years in Palestine, and has taken part in many engagements in that interesting country; he was shot through the left thigh in March 1916, and through the right thigh in December, 1916, at Bethlehem. He returned to France about three months ago, and in his voyage in the Mediterranean two attempts to torpedo the vessel on which he was travelling happily failed. Latterly he has been connected with a Lewis machine gun section, and acquired a medal for his proficiency. In his last letter to his parents, written on August 30th, he told them to expect him home in five days. Corpl. Luff was only 20 years of age on Feb. 22nd last, so that when he joined the Queen’s he was not 17 years old. He was a fine young fellow, and was 6ft, 2in, in height. In his sermon on Sunday, the Vicar of Brockham made most feeling allusion to the sad occurrence, as he did also to the deaths of Pte. Walter Miles and Mr. Henry Gale, Pte. George Luff, the Queen’s, a nephew of Mr. and Mrs. C. Luff, and who had been brought up by them from infancy, was killed in France on September 3rd, 1916.
Albert Luff Death Notice 21st September 1918 © Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
An article in the Leatherhead and Dorking Advertiser of 5th October 1918 reporting his death notes that his family received this letter from Sergeant J Tongue:-
“In reference to your letter to Sergt. Winter, which has been sent to me, as I was present at the time Bert met his fate. I can hardly say very much I am in sympathy with you, for we have all lost such a very good soldier, and a chum. We were sent out overnight to try and clear some hostile machine guns, and found ourselves in such a place that we had to keep quite low, as were only 100 yards from the enemy’s guns.
I must say that Bert did some magnificent work with his gum until came along about midday into my portion of the trench and was most cheerful; then the awful moment came; a sniper had him; for a moment I was lost, until I saw he had been hit. I dressed his wound as well as I could, but, poor chap, I did not think he could last long, I had to stay in my position until dusk, as I had the rest of my platoon with me, two other poor chaps had been hit early in the morning, and had to stay until dusk, when we were able to get them away.
I heard that he was at the dressing station, and on the following day he passed away. I cannot tell you where he was buried but it was a long way behind the line.
We are all very sorry to have lost such a good chum; one who was loved and respected by all in the company. Accept the deepest sympathy of us all in your terrible loss. I may add that the boys of our company could hardly speak the next morning when we heard the sad news, he was such a favourite with all of us.”
Albert’s War Gratuity and medals were sent to his parents who were living at 9 Oakdene Road in Brockham. His cousin George Luff also served with the Queens Royal West Surrey. He was killed in France in 1916.
In October 2021, we were contacted by David Morgan, who is the Education Officer at Croydon Minster. In the Minster is a memorial to the 2nd/4th Battalion, the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. Albert Luff’s battlefield cross is the centrepiece of this memorial.
Photograph courtesy of David Morgan
David wrote a piece for “Inside Croydon” about the memorial.
| Born | Brockham, Surrey | |
| Lived | Brockham, Surrey | |
| Son of | Charles and Alice Luff of 9 Oakdene Road, Brockham | |
| Regiment | 2nd/4th Battalion. The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Number | T/202185 | |
| Date of Death | 6th September 1918 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Died of wounds | |
| Age | 20 | |
| Cemetery | Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, Pas de Calais, France |
