Lovewell Bertie Bryant

A Lance Corporal with the 9th Battalion, Lovewell died on 3rd of May 1917 at the age of 27. 

Lovewell was born at Lowestoft in 1890, a son of George Henry and Harriet Emily Bryant. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church, Lowestoft, on 25 March 1890, and his family lived at 44 North Raglan Street. By 1901 they were living at 48 Milton Road, and later at 12 Cathcart Street.

Lovewell was working as a labourer when he volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft on 16 March 1908. He joined to serve for seven years with the Colours and five with the Reserve. He joined the Rifle Brigade, service number 2731. He was posted to the 3rd Battalion on 18 July 1908 and the 4th Battalion, in India, on 22 January 1913. In 1911 he was awarded certificates in mounted infantry and transportation. 

His battalion returned to England on 18 November 1914, and they arrived in France on 20 December 1914. In November 1915 they moved to Salonika. Lovewell was serving in Salonika where he was admitted to hospital suffering from malaria. He was then sent to Malta when he had another attack and he was sent to England but had another attack on board ship. He was admitted to the 4th Southern General Hospital, Plymouth, on 12 October 1916 and discharged on 1 November 1916. On 21 November 1916 he was admitted to hospital at Sheerness with bronchial catarrh and was discharged to duty on 2 December. He returned to France on 18 December 1916 and was posted to 47 Infantry Base Depot. He was then posted to the 9th Battalion.      

By midnight on 2-3 May the 9th Battalion had formed up in assembly trenches in readiness for an attack on Triangle Wood to Hill Side Work, as part of a general offensive near Arras. The first wave left the assembly trenches at zero minus 10 and the second wave at zero plus 42. Communication before daylight was impossible. The first wave veered too far right and encountered a new German trench where the wire had not been cut and the men were able to pass in advance of this trench. There were, however, casualties from enfilade machine-gun fire. All of the officers of the first wave were wounded. The second wave, advancing in the light, soon came under machine-gun fire that had either been recently established or missed by the first wave and they also took enfilade fire. The second wave were held up in front of Spotted Dog Trench, and, other than a few individuals, no-one got into that trench. The men tried to connect shell-holes but were bombed, and machine-guns prevented any movement. Orders to recall the battalion went out, but due to disarray it was difficult to pass on these orders.

Officers: seven wounded, five wounded and missing
Other ranks: 257 killed, wounded and missing

Lovewell was killed in action on 3 May. 

Lovewell’s service papers survive, in WO 363, but many entries are illegible.