LOVETT, William Ireland


No.30015, Private, William Ireland LOVETT
Aged 20


9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Friday, 20th July 1917


William Ireland Lovett was born in Steeple Bumpstead (Risbridge Q4-1897 4A:760), son of William Ireland and Lucy LOVETT (née MILLIN). His father had first married Marianna SUCKLING in 1866, they seem to have been childless and she died in 1893. His father married Lucy MILLIN in 1894.

1901 census...Aged 3, he was at Church Street, Steeple Bumpstead with his father William I LOVETT [57] grocer/draper born Haslingfield, Cambs; his mother Lucy [33] born Oxford; sisters Margery L [5] and Mary I [1] all the children born in Steeple Bumpstead

1911 census...Aged 13, he was still at Church Street with his parents and sisters Margery Lucy, Mary Teresa and Elizabeth Clara [5] born Steeple Bumpstead.


Walter enlisted in Steeple Bumpstead.
The battalion were in the 71st Brigade, 6th Division. The war diary says they were in the trenches in the St Elie, right sector and from 10th to 19th July had a quiet tour with mostly working parties to deceive the Germans into thinking an attack was about to be made from the south on Lille.
The Brigade was relieved by the 139th Brigade, the battalion relieved by 2nd Sherwood Foresters and moved by bus to OUTRON over night 20/21st.

The battalion had just 5 killed in the 10 days



photo: Rodney Gibson




photo:Rodney Gibson



William Lovett is buried in Mazingarbe, Philospohe British Cemetery, grave 1:T:36

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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