Name
Albert William (Herbert) Lovatt
1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20075
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
'D’ Coy,
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2C
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Holy Saviour Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Albert was born in 1882 in Burton on Trent, Staffordshire and christened on 7 January 1883 in Horninglow, St John the Divine, Staffordshire . His parents were Henry and Elizabeth Lovatt.
In 1891 the family were living at Adam’s Cottages, Branstone Road, Branstone, Staffs. Present were both parents: Henry (34) and Elizabeth (31), with Henry working as a brewer’s labourer. Their children were: Albert William (8), Annie (4) and Ernest (2).
In 1901 the family were living at 75 South Broadway Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staffs. Present were both parents, Henry working as a stationary engine driver. However, Albert is absent.
Albert had enlisted on 30 October 1899 as Private 4618 in the 4th Battalion Staffordshire Regiment, presumably prompted by the Boer War (1899-1902). He was 17 years a 1 month old and have his address as 75 South Broadway Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staff. He was a shoemaker, working for Mr Potter, 24 South Uxbridge Street, Burton, Staffs. He was described as 5’ 41/2” tall, 107lbs with blue eyes, brown hair and of a sallow complexion.
He was embodied on 24 January 1900 and embarked for active service in the Boer War on 9 March 1900, but was invalided back to England on 21 January 1902 and disembodied on 19 February 1902, receiving a war gratuity of £5 in March.
Albert married Jenny Smith (B 5/10/1884) in 1905 in Hitchin. They then had two children born before the next census: Elsie Beatrice Maud (b 20/7/1906) and Reginald William (b 17/2/1910).
By 1911 Albert (recorded as William) (28) and Jenny (26) were living at 5 Bedford St, Hitchin. With Elsie and Reginald. Albert was working as a boot repairer. The census recorded they had been married for 5 years with 2 children, all living.
Another child, Ronald Edwin was born on 27 May 1915.
He volunteered for service again in March 1914, becoming Private 20075 in the 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Officially Albert was recorded as born in Burton-On-Trent and was living in Hitchin, Herts. when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
He arrived at the Bedfordshire Training Depot in Ampthill Great Park, Ampthill on 22 March 1915. He was drafted on 18 January 1916 to join the British Expeditionary.
He was killed in action on the first day of the great Somme offensive. Private Lovatt saw action on the first day of the Somme (1 July 1916) and was killed in action that day, along with 20,000 other men.
The Battalion's objective was the Pommiers Redoubt and trench. They started at 7.30am as part of the 54th Brigade in the 18th Division. By 7.45am all the officers in the leading Companies had become casualties, but the NCOs and men pressed on and by 9.30am had captured their objectives. They continued for over 2,000 yards from the starting point and the Battalion was then withdrawn to Cannoy for a short rest.
He was in ‘D’ Company, which formed up in No. 3 Trench in support of ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies. They were the assaulting Battalion along with the 11th Royal Fusiliers. An artillery bombardment was heavy all night and increased in intensity till zero hour at 7.30 am, having commenced five days and nights earlier. ·'D’ Company followed closely behind ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies and pushed sections in where needed.
Additional Information
After his death £2 10s 4d was authorised to go to his widow, Jenny Lovatt, on 14 September 1916. Later, a war gratuity of £5 was authorised to be paid to her on 25 September 1919.
His pension cards record his widow, as his dependant, living at 5 Bedford Street, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 20s 6d a week from 22 January 1917. She also received a grant on 7 August 1917. Her pension was increased to 32s from 1 June 1918 and it was noted that this increase was under Article 13 of the Royal Warrant and in lieu of the original pension. Their children were listed as Elsie Beatrice Maud (b 20/7/1906), Reginald William (b 17/2/1910) and Ronald Edwin (b 27/5/1915).
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
