Joseph Lovatt is first mentioned in a census in 1901. He was living with his family at  41, New Hall View, Ruabon, Denbighshire.  Samuel Lovatt 51 was head of the household and a Brewer who had been born in Wrexham, Denbighshire.  His wife Lucy, 39  had been born in  Oswestry, Salop.  Their children were Edward 15, Mary 11,  Phillip 9  Fred 5,  Joseph was 3 and had been born in Ruabon and baby Anne was 8 months old.

The 1911 Census sees the family living at 9 houses, Shotton, Flintshire.  Samuel was 60 had been married 30 years to his wife Lucy 47.  13 children had been born but 4 had died.  The children listed were Edward 24 and  Philip 18, both Iron workers.  Fred was 14, Joseph  12,   Anne 10 and  Alice 6.

UK Soldiers who Died in The Great War 1914-19 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms all the regimental details above and adds that he enlisted in Shotton. This source tells us he ‘Died of Wounds’ in France and Flanders.

Joseph’s medal card also accessible on ancestry, records his medal details, but does not tell us his first Theatre of War nor when he entered it.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission additional Information:Son of Samuel R. and Lucy Lovatt, of Coppacks Cottages, 9 Houses, Shotton, Chester.

There is an index card for Joseph Lovatt in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden.(Flintshire WW1 Index Cards  Shotton F 22) It confirms the regimental details above and gives the address Nine Houses, Shotton, Flintshire. It adds that he served from  1917. He died of wounds in France. The card was signed on the 29th October 1919 by Lucy Lovatt, his mother.

The Absent Voter’s List of 1919 QUEENSFERRY POLLING DISTRICT – PARISH OF HAWARDEN show the Lovatt boys listed there –

2793 LOVATT, Philip Nine Houses 202849 Pte., R.A.M.C. (Disembodied 12/6/19) 5409
2794 LOVATT, Frederick do. 423518 Pte., 1/10th London Regt. 5410
2795 LOVATT, Joseph do. 291917 Pte., 1/7th Welsh (Died of Wounds 25/9/18) 5411

The numbers at the end of each line show the number they were listed on the 1918 list of the same name.

Joseph was named on 2 other memorials – the Hawarden War Memorial and the memorial screen at St Ethelwold’s Church. Somebody made an effort to ensure he was remembered.