211098 Sgt. William Lovell British Army 2nd Battalion Duke of Cambridgeshires Own Middlesex Regiment from:North Kensington, London, (d.25th Mar 1918) William Lovell joined the Army as a regular soldier at Mill Hill on 2nd April 1914. He had been apprenticed from school as a Boiler Riveter on Scrubs Lane, West London and was a Fitters Mate when he joined up. His papers said he was joining up "to better himself".
He was with his unit in Malta when war broke out and arrived back in Southampton on 25th September 1914. After a brief spell at Hursely Park he sailed to Le Havre with 23rd Brigade, 8th Division to reinforce the BEF. He rose through the ranks despite being busted a couple of times for being late on parade whilst back in England at Bridgewood Camp, Rochester in 1916. He was on almost continuous active service throughout WW1.
His parents received messages regarding two of their sons in the same week. William and his brother both went missing in March 1918. William's brother Henry (My Grandfather) subsequently turned up, he had been taken POW. Sadly however, William was Killed in Action on 25 March 1918. He had just turned 21 years old. He is commemorated at Assevillers New British Cemetery. I wish I could have known him he sounds quite a character from his records. We are so grateful for what he endured and the sacrifices he made. RIP William
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