Name
Reginald William Lovatt
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
28/07/1942
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Civilian
NA
Fire Service
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St. Saviour's Church Memorial, Hitchin, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin
Biography
He is mentioned on the Roll of Honour (Civil) in St. Mary's Church, Hitchin and in the Rural District of Mildenhall Section of the Civilian War Dead Register.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission shows that his death occurred on the 28th July 1942. His death probably occurred at Icklingham near Mildenhall, but it was in the neighbourhood of Newmarket and it occurred at about 8.40am. Reg was on duty at the time and he was killed in a road accident when a fire tender was trying to overtake another tender parked on the roadside. The Coroner stated that there was negligence on the part of the driver of the overtaking tender and the verdict was accidental death.
He had been born in Hitchin and before serving full-time with Hitchin Fire Brigade for three years, had worked as a hairdresser for Mr Thair in Hitchin. In his leisure time he was an Oddfellow.
The funeral was in St. Saviour's Church in Hitchin and was attended by a number of firemen. He was buried in Grave S.E. Ext XCVlA in Hitchin Cemetery on the 1st August 1942.
He was the husband of Lilian M. Lovatt formerly Chapman of 52, High Dane, Walsworth, Hitchin, Herts. They had a three year old daughter Ann who sadly was to die in 1948 and was buried in the same grave as her father.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, North Herts District Council Cemetery Records, Herts Pictorial dated 4th August 1942
