Name
Roland Lovesey
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/07/1917
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
26058
The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
4th/5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Plot I, Row B, Grave 40.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, Not on the Bushey memorials, Not on the Oxhey memorials
Pre War
Born in Bushey on 7 June 1891, Roland Lovesey was one of eleven children, one of whom died in infancy, born to Jesse and Elizabeth (nee Cox) Lovesey. His parents were married on 22 December 1875 at St Mary the Virgin in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire.
Jesse died 18 June 1940 in Watford aged 84, and was buried 21 June in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Elizabeth died 1946 in Watford aged 89, and was buried 11 January, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
At the 1891 Census the family was living at 4 Villers Road, Bushey. Both parents were aged 35 and his father was employed as a plasterer. There were six children; Clara, Aleck, Horace, Ralph, Ethel, Harry, Roland and Bazil, who’s ages were 12, 10, 7, 5, 3 years and 10 months respectively. The birthplaces are given as Cranfield, Bedfordshire for Jesse, Elizabeth, Clara and Aleck, and Luton for the other four children.
By the time of the 1901 Census, the family had moved to 29 Vale Road, Bushey. Roland was now 10 years old and living with his parents and eight siblings. His father was still working as a plasterer, but now on his own account rather than an employee. Bushey is given as the birthplace for Roland.
Roland attended Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 11 January 1904 to 14 July 1905.
At the 1911 Census, the family had moved again to 5 Princes Avenue, Watford. Roland was then 19 and living with his parents and two brothers, Harry and Bazil. He is employed as an architectural draughtsman.
Wartime Service
Roland enlisted in Watford, initially as Private 26086 with the Bedfordshire Regiment, transferring to Private 26058 with the 4th/5th Battalion of The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
He married Winifred Hetty Sparke on 11 June 1916 at the Congregational Church, Watford. They set up home at 20 Percy Road, Watford and had one child.
Roland served in France and Flanders and had been married for about a year when he died, aged 26, on 18 July 1917, either killed in action or died at 54 Casualty Clearing Station of wounds received accidentally. He was buried at Merville Communal Cemetery Extension in France Plot: I. B. 40.
He is not named on any Bushey memorial. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and
Soldiers Died in the Great War states he was killed in action, whilst the Register of Soldiers’ Effects states it was due to wounds from an accident. The Register of Soldiers’ Effects also names his widow, Winifred, as his sole beneficiary. His pension record card names Winifred as the claimant, but it appears that a letter from her made his mother, Elizabeth, his dependant. Winifred never remarried and died on 14 or 16 March 1975 in Watford aged 79. She was buried on 19 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Roland in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 28 July 1917; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 20 July 1918, 27 July 1918 and 19 July 1919.
Jesse and Elizabeth remained at 5, Princes Avenue and were still living there at the time of the 1939 Registration. Jesse died on 18 June 1940 and the probate record for 15 August gives his effects of £870 which were left to Alec, Horace and Ralph Lovesey builders.
Roland’s brother, Basil, also served as Private 1880 with the Hertfordshire Yeomanry and died on 21 August 1915. He is buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Gallipoli.
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk) His brother Basil died 21 August 1915 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour. Unfortunately, Roland’s Service record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
