Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Joseph Loe. The 1911 census records for 163, Logan Street, Market Harborough, Leics. William Joseph Loe, head of the family, a widower and Labourer, born 1867 in Shoreditch, London, also William Francis Loe, father a widower and Shoemaker, born 1839 in Stockwell, Surrey, William, son, single and a Hosiery Frame Worker, born 1893 in Northamptonshire, James, son, single and a Hosiery Frame Worker, born 1896, Arthur, son, single and a Schoolboy the latter two children were both born in Northampton. Additionally Phoebe Bull, sister, married, born 1884 in Northampton, Grace Bull, neice, a Schoolgirl, born 1903 in Northampton and Ernest Bull, nephew and a Schoolboy, born 1905 in Northampton. The War Diary entries for the 11th, 12th and 13th October1915 record. 11.10.15. GERMAN CAPTURED TRENCHES. Still in old German lines and digging trenches, new assembly trenches. Lt. Col. L.G.W. DOBBIN rejoined battalion from sick leave.
12.10.15. Busy completing arrangements and issuing stores for new attack tomorrow. Carry gas cylinders into front trenches.
13.10.15. The 2nd ROYAL SUSSEX REGT and ourselves are lent to the 1st Brigade (Brigadier General REDDY) to act in support and then move forward through 1st Brigade and capture the south west end of HULLUCH if attack is successful. The Battalion began filing out of old German trenches near POSEN STREET about 1.00am. and moved forward into battle stations in new assembly trenches. These trenches and Battalion HQ dugout at H.1.BC (Central) also advanced Battalion HQ about ½ mile nearer enemy, were only roughly completed an hour before we occupied them. The assembly trenches were about 5 foot deep and 2 foot broad and slightly serpentine. Those to the south being dug in soft loamy soil, the remainder in hard chalk. Lt. Col. DREW was ordered to remain in command of the Battalion, as Lt. Col. DOBBIN was attached to the 2nd Brigade HQ as observing Staff Officer. “Zero” was timed for 1.00pm. when our own intense bombardment started: but the bombardment of FOSSE 8 (11th Corps) began at noon. Our gas and smoke appeared to go very well and at 2.00pm. the 1st Brigade began to advance into it and reports came back saying all was well. It appears however that the gas had little effect and the German wire was practically uncut. In consequence only a small portion of the German line was penetrated (by the BLACK WATCH). Our own trenches were heavily shelled by the enemy: the assembly trench occupied by “B” Company had three absolutely direct hits with coal boxes about a dozen men being killed or buried and some of the officers having narrow escapes and being knocked about. Before the advance started Captain JERVOIS was hit in the arm and handed over to Lt. PURDY. The latter officer had only joined a few days. “A” Company of ours and “A” Company 2nd ROYAL SUSSEX REGT were detailed as two strong patrols to advance across our line and on into HULLUCH being supported by bombers on their outer flanks. They never got over our front line, being severely handled by the Germans as they advanced up to it in the open from the rear. The German trench being about 200 yards distant. Lt. PURDY was badly hit in the shoulder and practically half the Company either killed or wounded in the space of a few minutes. The survivors advanced as quickly as they could and took cover in our front line. “A” Company 2nd ROYAL SUSSEX REGT also suffered heavy losses, Captain BURGESS who was in command being killed. Each man in the Battalion was issued with two Mills bombs and grenadiers carried eight each. Most of these were sent to help the BLACK WATCH in their attempt to dislodge the Germans from the trench in which we (BLACK WATCH) had gained a footing. As the afternoon wore on the Battalion was moved up into trenches nearer the front and the 9th KING’S LIVERPOOL REGT and the 2nd KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS pushed up in support. The trenches became very much blocked and movement was most difficult: All sorts of rumours were in circulation but nobody was able to positively say how the attack had fared. Our “A” and “C” Companies were by this time both mixed up with the BLACK WATCH and 10th GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGT in the front trenches, whilst “B” and “D” Companies were more or less together in some of the old German communication trenches further back. As it got dark Companies were able to shake themselves free and reorganise to some extent. At about 7.00pm. It had now become evident that there was a hitch somewhere and orders were received to report exactly the position of all units, ourselves and the 2nd ROYAL SUSSEX REGT again coming under orders of our own Brigadier. Battalion HQ were temporarily established at point 18 (our dressing station). Lt. Col. DREW and Lt. CLARKE (Acting Adjutant) were called away to a Brigade conference at 9.45pm. leaving Major G. A. ROYSTON-PIGOTT in charge. The Medal Index Card records that he entered the Theatre of War on the 13th August 1914, he was awarded the 1914 Star, Roll K/1/7, Page 147, The Victory Medal, Roll K/1/101.B14, Page 2524 and The British Medal, Roll K/1/101.B14, Page 2524. also a note stating Clasp/2/3233. The card is also noted with the word "Dead.