Tom Lovett
- Family History
- Military History
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Tom was the only son of Thomas Alfred and Sarah Ann Lovett (née Jordan). His father Thomas Alfred was born in Loughborough, Leicestershire, in 1852, the son of William and Mary Lovett, and baptised at Loughborough All Saints on 16 February 1852. Thomas Alfred served in the King's Royal Rifle Corps for 21 years before leaving the army and becoming a colliery worker. His mother Sarah Ann was born in Skegby, Nottinghamshire, in 1857, the daughter of John and Sarah Jordan. In 1871 her family was living in Skegby. Thomas Alfred Lovett (34) and Sarah Ann Jordan (27), both of Grange Lane, Leicester, were married at Leicester St Mary de Castro on 28 August 1886. They had six children who apart from the eldest child Sarah were born in Meadows, Nottingham. All the children were baptised on 11 October 1899 at North Wilford St Faith, Meadows: Sarah Ann b. Leicester 1887, Maud Louisa birth registered 1889 (J/F/M), Eugenia b. 1890, Kate b. 1891, Tom b. 1893 and Ada b. 1895. In 1891, Thomas, a storekeeper at Clifton Colliery, his wife and three daughters Sarah (3), Maud (2) and Eugenia (1) were living at Curtis Grove, Wilford Road, Meadows. The family was living at 189 Wilford Road when the children were baptised in October 1899, but by 1901 Thomas and Sarah had moved to 13 Marshall Terrace, Briar Street, Meadows. All six children were living at home: Sarah a tailor's apprentice, Maude, Euginia, Kate (10), Tom (8) and Ada (6). Thomas and Sarah were still at the same address in 1911; he was now an explosive store keeper at the colliery. Only four children were in the home on the night of the census: Maude a book binder, Eugenia who was assisting her mother in the home, and Kate and Ada who were blouse machinists. The eldest daughter Sarah Ann had married Arthur Sturtivant in 1907 and in 1911 Arthur, a foreman working for Nottingham Corporation, Sarah and their daughter Annie were living at 1 Marshall Terrace, Briar Street, Meadows. Also in the household was Sarah's brother, Tom, who was working as a collier filler. At the time of Tom's death in 1917 his parents were living at 24 Colliery Road, Nottingham. Sarah died on 18 February 1923 and Thomas aged 72 the following year on 29 June 1924; he was still living at 24 Colliery Road.
1st Garrison Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Tom served at home and died of pneumonia on 21 November 1918. He was buried in Wilford (St Wilfred) Churchyard, West Extension. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Wilford (St Wilfred) Churchyard - there are 10 CWGC First and Second World War burials in the churchyard.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Cherished memories of dearest brother Tom' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 21 November 1919: ‘Lovett. In loving remembrance of Pte, Tom Lovett died November 21st, 1918, beloved only son of Tom and Sarah Lovett. Our bitter loss, His eternal gain. Missed by sorrowing father and mother.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 21 November 1919: ‘Lovett. In memory of our dear brother Pte. Tom Lovett, also his chum, George Lilburn, died November 21st and 14th 1918. Ever remembered. Sarah [sister] and Arthur Strutivant.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Note: George Lilburn b. 1892 d. 14 November 1918. In 1901 aged 8 he and his brother William (Willie) aged 12 were living with their married sister Elizabeth Lee and her husband Thomas, a coal miner at Clifton Colliery, at Salisbury Terrace, Hawthorne Street, Meadows. No military record traced. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 19 February 1923: ‘Lovett. On the 18th inst., Sarah Lovett the beloved wife of Tom Lovett, 24 Colliery-road, passed peacefully away.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 1 July 1924: ‘Lovett. On June 29th, at 24 Colliery-road, ex-Sergeant Thomas Alfred Lovett, beloved husband of the late Sarah Lovett, passed peacefully away after a brief illness, 36 years service at Clifton Colliery, and 21 years’ service in the 3rd KRR [King’s Royal Rifles’] aged 72. Undivided in life, united in death. Interment Wilford Hill, Thursday, 3.45.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
