Douglas Lovitt
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Douglas was the eldest son of John William and Mary Jane Lovitt (nee Fletcher). His father John was born in Scawby, Lincolnshire, in 1870 and his mother Mary Jane Fletcher in Tuxford, Nottinghamshire, in 1879. They were married at Elkelsey St Giles, Nottinghamshire, in February 1899 and had six children: Douglas b. 1899, Lillian b. 1901 (d. 1929), Ernest Rawson b. 1904, Sydney Arthur b. 1906 and John Henry b. 1909 who were born in Sutton cum Lound and Wilfred b. 1912 (birth reg. East Retford). There may have been another son, Leonard b. 1913 (O/N/D East Retford, Fletcher) but no record has yet been traced for this child other than a birth registration. In 1901 John, a blacksmith, and Mary with their first child Douglas (1), were living on Mattersea Road, Sutton cum Lound. Also in the household was a boarder, CW Ostick (18), a blacksmith improver who presumably was working with John. By 1911 John and Mary with their five children, Douglas, Lilian (9), Ernest (6), Sydney (5) and John (2) had moved to Hallcroft Road, West Retford. John's occupation was given as a general smith 'disengaged.' Mary Jane died at Morton Grange, Babworth, on 29 September 1914. According to a newspaper report of Douglas' death in 1918, his father was working as a blacksmith at Morton Grange Farm where Douglas also worked. John William, who had retired from work, was an inmate of Trinity Hospital, Retford, in 1939 when the England and Wales Register was compiled. He died at the Hospital in 1952.
8th Bn King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) formerly Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) The 8th Battalion was raised in 1914 and served in France from April 1915. The Battalion was in action in March 1918 in the Battle of St Quentin and the successful defence of Wancourt and then in the Battle of Lys (also known as the fourth Battle of Ypres) in April 1918. This was followed by the Battle of Albert in August 1918. Douglas enlisted in Retford on 26 September 1917 and served in France from 10 May 1918, just weeks after the fierce fighting of March and April. On 1 June 1918 he suffered severe wounds, including injuries to the chest, and died at a Canadian Casualty Clearing Station the same day. He was 18 years of age. Douglas was buried in Pernes British Cemetery, France (grave reference 2.E.28). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Pernes British Cemetery (extract): 'Pernes-en-Artois is a small town on the main road from Lillers to St. Pol. The cemetery was not begun until April 1918 when the 1st and 4th Canadian Casualty Clearing Stations came to Pernes, driven back by the German advance. In May, the 6th and 22nd Clearing Stations arrived and in August, they were joined by the 13th. Almost all the burials were made by these units, but a few of the graves were brought into the cemetery after the Armistice (Graves 2 to 13 in Plot VI, Row C, were brought from the small British Cemeteries of Anvin and Wavrans). (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC: 'Son of J. W. Lovitt, of Morton Grange, Babworth, Retford, Notts.' CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Morton Grange Retford' Pte Douglas Lovitt Retford Times 21st June 1918 'Pte Douglas Lovitt, Royal Lancasters. Official news has been received of the death of Pte Douglas Lovitt, son of Mr John Wm Lovitt, blacksmith at Morton Grange Farm. He joined the Notts and Derbys on September 26th 1917, and went to France on May 10th 1918. He was transferred to the Royal Lancasters and was severely wounded on June 1st, in the chest and other parts. He was taken to a Canadian Casualty Clearing Station and passed away the same day. He was 18 years of age. Previous to joining the forces he worked on the Morton Grange Farm and was well known and highly respected and much sympathy is felt with the bereaved family.' Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father John William Lovitt was his sole legatee.
