Alfred Crowdy Lovett was born in Croydon, Surrey, UK in the early months of 1863. His parents were James Crowdy Lovett and his wife, Ellen Hawkins Lovett, nee Bevan. Alfred was baptised in St James church, Croydon on September 5th 1863. He first appeared on the census of 1871 aged 8 and living at Addiscombe Road, Holly Mount, Croydon with his parents and brothers.
In 1882 Alfred became a Lieutenant in the 4th Bn. The East Surrey Regiment.
By the 1901 census, he was aged 38, single and a Captain in the Infantry. The census was for the parish of Sandhurst, Berkshire.
In the second quarter of 1903, Alfred married Fannie Rumsey in Maryleborne London. He served during WW1, commanding the 1st Gloucestershire Regiment at the retreat from Mons in 1914.
Alfred’s military career was distinguished and he was gazetted twice. On 16/02/1915 (gazette date) he was made a Companion of the order of the Bath, and on 3/02/1919 in the King’s Birthday Honours he was awarded a CBE. He was by then a Brigadier General and on the “general staff”.
Alfred Crowdy Lovett “died of illness in the U. K. and was buried in Manor Road Cemetery grave ref. the oval.17. At his death he is listed as having served in the General Staff & the Gloucestershire Regiment, which he joined in 1883.
Medals:
Silver Star, Victory and British War Medals
C.B. C.B.E. Mentioned in Dispatches
As well as being a distinguished soldier, Alfred Crowdy Lovell was a talented artist, his work being shown at the Royal Academy. He also wrote books:
“India and the War” (Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1915) and
“The Armies of India painted by A.C. Lovett ; described by G.F. MacMunn” ;-with foreword by Earl Roberts (Adam and Charles Black, London, 1911)
Alfred is remembered in Manor Road Cemetery and on the WW1 Roll of Honour at Whitgift School where he was a pupil.
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| Roll of Honour at Whitgift School |
Sources:
https://www.scarboroughcemeteries.co.uk/database/lovett-alfred-crowdy/
https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Lovett%2C%20Alfred%20Crowdy%2C%201862%2D1919
https://glosters.tripod.com/1919off.html
https://www.google.com/search?q=alfred+crowdy+lovett&rlz=1C1CHBD_en-GBGB794GB794&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwidlND7ldH5AhWQa8AKHSAFD6UQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1280&bih=824&dpr=1
