Name
Basil Lovesey
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/08/1915
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1880
Hertfordshire Yeomanry
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GREEN HILL CEMETERY
II. C. 26.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, Hertfordshire Yeomanry Memorial, St Albans Cathedral, Not on the Bushey memorials(*1)
Pre War
Son of Jesse and Elizabeth (nee COX) LOVESAY.
His parents married 22 December 1875 at St Mary the Virgin, Bulwell, Notts. 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.
Basil was born 4 January 1897 in Bushey, Herts. He attended Beechen Grove Board School from 10 January to 12 May 1905, and again from 9 January 1906 to 10 January 1911. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 4 he lived in Bushey, with his parents and eight siblings. On the 1911 Census, a factory hand aged 14, he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 5 November 1914, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
There is a Death announcement for Basil in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 25 September 1915. His brother Roland died 18 July 1917 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour. Unfortunately, Basil’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. *1 Records found have recorded his birthplace as Bushey. This may be the case, however Bushey was the main postal location given for nearby villages and hamlets, so it may be that this information is misleading. If more accurate information found this will be updated.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Jonty Wild, Gareth Hughes
