Thank you to Jane Anthony for the following research.
It would appear that George was born in Brockham in about 1881. His mother died when he was four. The 1891 census has him, aged eight, living as a lodger with his Uncle Charles, a farm labourer, and Aunt Alice at Pondtail Farm Brockham. Another lodger is George William Luff, another agricultural labourer who is also described as being a widower. It seems likely that George William is the father of young George.
By 1901, George is still living with Charles and Alice, but George William is no longer there, possibly he had died. George is working as a bricklayer’s assistant. In 1911 he is no longer living with Charles and Alice and could not be traced.
George Luff enlisted in the 8th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Surrey Regiment. He enlisted in Dorking.
A BROCKHAM MAN KILLED
Pte George Luff, of the Queen’s Royal West Regt,. son of the late Mr and Mrs G Luff was killed in the Somme district on September 3rd. He was in his 35th year; he lost his mother when four years old, and since that time has made his home with his uncle and aunt, Mr and Mrs C. Luff, of Felton’s Farm, to which he has been as a son. The sad news was conveyed in a letter received by Mrs C. Luff on Saturday morning as follows – “Dear Madam, It is with the deepest regret that I write to inform you of the death of your son, Pte G. Luff. He was killed in action on the 3rd inst, and his death was instantaneous. His loss is keenly felt by all his comrades, who wished me to convery to to you their sincerest sympathy for your loss.
He was an excellent soldier, and his death is a serious loss to this company. Believe me, dear Madam, yours truly, Lieut G. Andrews.
Pte. Luff enlisted in the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment in October, 1915, and in less than three months was sent to France, where he has given his life for King and country. He was well known in Brockham and neighbourhood, and the deepest sympathy is felt for the sorrowing relatives. The bell at Christ Church was tolled on Saturday night and the Vicar made allusion to the death on Sunday morning.
He was killed on 3rd September 1916 at Delville Wood. The 8th Battalion had moved to the forward trenches on 1st September and taken over the inner trench from the Royal West Kent Regiment who had been much depleted. For the next two days they were heavily bombarded resulting in many casualties, including George Luff. The trench was vacated on 4th September.
George Luff is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial and on the Brockham Memorial. His effects were distributed amongst his uncles and aunts. He was unmarried.
| Born | Brockham, Surrey | |
| Lived | Brockham, Surrey | |
| Enlisted | Dorking | |
| Regiment | 8th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Number | G/6615 | |
| Date of Death | 3rd September 1916 | |
| Place of Death | Delville Wood, Somme, France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 35 | |
| Memorial | Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France |
