LOVELACE , RONALD DESMOND WESTON

2ND LIEUT. / 1ST BATTN. QUEEN'S OWN (ROYAL WEST KENT REGT.).

Died at 26 October 1917

Biography:

2ND LIEUT. RONALD DESMOND WESTON LOVELACE, 1ST BATTN. QUEEN'S OWN (ROYAL WEST KENT REGT.). KILLED IN ACTION NEAR THE MENIN ROAD, OCTOBER 26TH, 1917. AGED 19. At the School 1912—15 (School House). 2nd Lieut. R. D. W. Lovelace was the elder son of James Weston Lovelace, who became a Temporary Lieutenant, A.P.D., and of Mrs. Ruth Lovelace, of Windmill, Milford-on-Sea, Hants., and his younger brother, G. E. W. Lovelace (Sc. 1915-18), was still in the School. Entering the School in January, 1912, from Stratheden House, Blackheath, he left from the Engineering Sixth at Christmas, 1915, to go to the R.M.C., Sandhurst. He had gained the Spanish Prize in the previous July, whilst in the Modern Sixth, and had been a prominent member of the XI. and XV. in his last two years. In the XL he had each year a batting average of over 20, and was described as " the best all-round " player in 1915, " a useful left-handed bat with a forcing style," and " as a leg-break and googlie bowler sometimes very difficult to play." He took considerably more wickets than any other bowler in 1915. In the XV., as an inside three-quarter, he was at times brilliant. From the R.M.C. he was gazetted to the Royal West Kent Regt., October 27th, 1916, and after being stationed for some time at Rochester left for the Front in February, 1917, shortly after his nineteenth birthday. He was home on leave in August, and on his return was for a month at a Corps School before going again to the trenches. On October 26th, 1917, he was instantaneously killed by a shell near the Menin Road. A brother officer, writing to tell of his death, said:— " He was always so cool and did not appear to know what danger was." His CO. wrote :— " Your boy was one of the best and most reliable subalterns I had in the Battalion, and I had marked him down for promotion when opportunity offered. He was just splendid with the men, who would have followed him anywhere, and his presence in the firing line and his astonishing coolness in emergency were of unfailing help to his Company and the Battalion generally." and, in a letter to a friend, said of him :— " His loss is very much felt by all ranks. He was a most gallant boy and one of the coolest in battle I have ever met."

Military

Citations

A brother officer, writing to tell of his death, said:—"He was always so cool and did not appear to know what danger was. "His C.O. wrote :—"Your boy was one of the best and most reliable subalterns I had in the Battalion, and I had marked him down for promotion when opportunity offered. He was just splendid with the men, who would have followed him anywhere, and his presence in the firing line and his astonishing coolness in emergency were of unfailing help to his Company and the Battalion generally." and, in a letter to a friend, said of him :—" His loss is very much felt by all ranks. He was a most gallant boy and one of the coolest in battle I have ever met."

Outcome

Died

How He Died

KILLED IN ACTION

Where He Died

NEAR THE MENIN ROAD

Died Age

School

School House

Date Entered

1912

Date Left

1915

School Achievements

Entering the School in January, 1912, from Stratheden House, Blackheath, he left from the Engineering Sixth at Christmas, 1915, to go to the R.M.C., Sandhurst. He had gained the Spanish Prize in the previous July, whilst in the Modern Sixth, and had been a prominent member of the XI. and XV. in his last two years. In the XL he had each year a batting average of over 20, and was described as " the best all-round " player in 1915, " a useful left-handed bat with a forcing style," and " as a leg-break and googLie bowler sometimes very difficult to play." He took considerably more wickets than any other bowler in 1915. In the XV., as an inside three-quarter, he was at times brilliant.