Born in 1895 at West Bromwich, the son of Frederick (Postmaster) and Sarah Lovesy. Frederick was later appointed as the Postmaster at Woodford Green.
1911: Harold, a 16 year old Scholar, was with maternal grandparents James and Alice Simcox at 58 Nicholls Street, West Bromwich. Also resident was his Aunt Alice who was a Curator with the Borough Council Museum. His parents were living at “Beechholme” Glebe Avenue, Woodford Green, with their older son Roland Simcox Lovesy, 19, a Clerk with the Grand Trunk Railways of Canada. On enlistment Harold’s address is given as Woodford Green.
The Battalion was engaged in the Battle of St Julien, and had been ordered to advance and dig in 600 yards south east of Fortuin. While spared an infantry attack, they were shelled regularly for several days; “at the mercy of German guns on Gravenstafel Ridge” as one man remarked. Harold Lovsey was in these trenches on 28th April when he was struck by shrapnel and injured by falling earth. An operation proved unsuccessful, and he Died of Wounds in a Casualty Clearing Station at Hazebrouck.
His brother Roland was shot in the head during March 1915, but recovered to survive the war.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Principal Sources:
Ancestry.com
London Rifle Brigade History