Private William Alfred Lovatt
T4/186060 Army Service Corps
64479 Cheshire Regiment
34657 Royal Warwickshire Regiment
William was born in 1879 in Tipton, Staffordshire. His parents were Joseph Lovatt, an ironworker from Wolverhampton and Mary Harriett (nee Jeavons) from Dudley. William was one of a large family; siblings were James, Amelia, Joseph, Beatrice, Ada, Charles, Frances, Edwin and Simeon.
In 1901 William, aged 21, and a ball furnaceman is lodging with John and Eliza Waterfall and family at Sedgwick Street, Jacksdale. Ten years later, in 1911 he is still lodging with the Waterfalls but is employed as a clay pipe maker.
There is only scant information regarding is military career. He is recorded on the Absent Voters Roll of 1918/1919 as absent from Sedgwick Street, serving with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was a recipient of the British War and Victory Medals.
We believe he went on to marry Lizzie Leivers in Basford District in 1920 and that they had a son named Harry.
The Waterfall’s son named Sydney is also listed on the Jacksdale War Memorial as having served in WW1.
Photo Below: John Waterfall whom William lodged with for over ten years. Courtesy The Kitson Family.