Name
Frank George Loveday
1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/05/1915
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2837
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GUARDS CEMETERY, WINDY CORNER, CUINCHY
IV. E. 37.
France
Headstone Inscription
"LOVE NEVER FAILETH"
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Oxhey Village Memorial, Paddock Road Baptist Chapel, Oxhey, Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Bushey memorials
Pre War
Frank George Loveday was born in Bushey, Herts, in 1897, the son of Frank Loveday, a labourer with the railway, and his wife Henrietta Loveday (nee Morris). The youngest of two children.
His parents married 26 March 1894 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey. Henrietta died 24 February 1952 in Oxhey aged 81, and was buried 28 February at St James’, Bushey, Herts; Frank died 1966 in the Watford district aged 96.
1901 Census records Frank aged(4), living with his parents, and sister Ada (6), at 35, Aldenham Road, New Bushey, Herts. They had a Boarder Mr Edward Tomlin a Journeyman Butcher.
In 1911 the family was still living at 35, Aldenham Road, Frank aged (14), was still at school but with a spare-time job as a newsboy. His sister, Ada (16), was apprenticed to a dressmaker.
Wartime Service
In September 1914, while living in Oxhey, Frank travelled to the County Town of Hertford to enlisted in the Hertfordshire Regiment, he was issued with the service number 2837.
He landed in France on the 23rd January 1915 and served on the Western Front. He was killed in action on 18th May 1915, aged 18, at the battle of Festubert, one of 17 men from the Hertfordshire Regiment killed that day.
He is commemorated at the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy in France and on the St Matthew’s Church Memorial in Oxhey. His name is also one of five servicemen on a small stone memorial plaque belonging to the Paddock Road Baptist Chapel, Oxhey, now on Oxhey Village Green. His parents later moved to 44 Capel Road, Oxhey.
Additional Information
The value of his effects were £6-5s-1d, Pay Owing and £3, War Gratuity, which went to his father Frank Loveday. His mother, Mrs, H. Loveday of 44, Capel Rd, Oxhey, Watford, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "LOVE NEVER FAILETH". Unfortunately, Frank’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There are articles about Frank in the Watford Illustrated dated 26 June 1915 and 4 September 1915; also an article and a Death announcement in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 29 May 1915; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 20 May 1916, 19 May 1917, 18 May 1918 and 24 May 1919, Recorded as LOVEDAY F C in the Borough Roll of Honour. Information provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
