Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

Edward John (Ted) LOVELL

Personal

Born: 1895

Birthplace: Allansford, Victoria

Parents: Christopher Lovell (1863-1914)
Mary Frances Manson (1868-1952)
Married in 1886 at Warrnambool

Died: 2 October, 1917

Place of death: Died Of Wounds

Burial place: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Lijssenthoek, West-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

Awards and Honours

  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal
  • 1914-1918 Memorial Plaque

Battalions

4th / 12th Australian Machine Gun Company; 11th Australian Machine Gun Company

Events

Enlistment

Regimental Service Number: 347

Enlistment date: 19 June, 1916 Melbourne

Age at enlistment: 20 years 8 months

Address at enlistment: Rockbank, Victoria

Religion: Church of England

Marital Status: Single

Next of kin: Mother: Mary Francis Lovell

Physical Description: Height: 5 foot 7 inches
Weight: 160 pounds
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Dark Brown
Distinctive marks: Vaccination, and several moles

Embarkation ship: S.S. Orontes.

Rank: Private

War Service Summary

19/06/1916 - Enlisted; trained at Seymour
14/08/1916 - Attached to 4th/12th Machine Gun Company; Seymour
16/08/1916 - Embarked for overseas duty aboard S.S. Orontes
02/10/1916 - Disembarked; Plymouth
14/11/1916 - Marched in from Parkhouse
19/01/1917 - Embarked for overseas aboard Princess Henrietta
20/01/1917 - Marched in from England; Camiers
26/01/1917 - Marched out to 11th Machine Gun Company
29/01/1917 - Taken on strength to 11th Machine Gun Company, ex 12th Machine Gun Company
18/03/1917 - Detached for duty at school
08/04/1917 - Rejoined unit from Machine Gun school
19/07/1917 - Reported sick; vomiting, dry cough, laryngitis, bronchitis
29/09/1917 - Wounded in Action; Gun Shot Wound
30/09/1917 - Trasnferred to Canadian Casualty Clearing Station from 3rd Field Ambulance; Gun Shot Wounds to legs and chest
02/10/1917 - Died of Wounds; Belgium

Mother, a widow, granted a pension of 40/- per fortnight from 12/12/1917

Brother of Charles Lovell 3611

War Service Commemerated

Killed in action.

Date: 2 October, 1917

29/09/1917 - Wounded in Action; Gun Shot Wounds to legs and chest
02/10/1917 - Died of Wounds; Belgium

Buried in
Lijssenthock Military Cemetery, 1¾ miles South West of Poperinghe, Plot 20, Row F, Grave 17, Poperinghe, Belgium
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Lijssenthoek, West-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

Panel 178 in the Commemorative Area of the Australian War Memorial

21/06/1918 - Effects returned per Barunga:
Belt, metal chain, metal watch, numeral, torch (damaged), pipe (broken), dictionary, photos, cards, wallet, purse, note book, handkerchief, 4 coins

Additional Information

Apprentice blacksmith to W.A. Paterson, Rockbank for 5 years.

Melton Express
And
The Bacchus Marsh Express
27 October 1917 p 2

Christ Church services:-- ….. Rockbank, 3 (Memorial Service for Pte. Ted. Lovell).

Private Ted. Lovell, son of Mrs. Lovell, Rockbank, has been killed in Action. A memorial service will be held at Rockbank, to-morrow.

The Bacchus Marsh Express
31 October 1914 p 2

LOVELL. — On the 26th October, 1914 (accidentally killed near Melton), Christopher Lovell, railway employee, beloved husband of Mary Lovell, Rockbank, aged 51 years.

The Bacchus Marsh Express
31 October 1914 p 2

On Monday night between 10 and 11 o'clock, a terrible accident happened, when Messrs. James Patrick Casey and Christopher Lovell lost their lives when proceeding to work at the Werribee viaduct, near Melton, as watchmen. Since the war started the Railway Department has guarded the bridge day and night, in case of an attempt to wreck it, and in this duty the two unfortunate men were employed. They were proceeding to their work on a tricycle, and when within a couple of hundred yards of their journey's end they were run into by a special train, word of which was given to them at Melton station. The train, however, was 25 minutes before its time (so it has been stated) and the men were caught on the curve in the cutting on the Melton side of the bridge. To all appearances the men did not see the train, as both were struck on the forehead with the plate of the engine, and both were dreadfully knocked about. ….. Mr. Lovell also was a resident of Rockbank, and next door neighbour to Mr. Casey. He also lived in Rockbank for a number of years, and leaves a wife and family, and held in high esteem by the neighbours. This family seems to be unfortunate, as only last week the oldest son was hurt in the blasting accident, which occurred at Rockbank. An inquest will be held early next week.
On Wednesday last the bodies of the two poor unfortunate men who were run down and killed by a special train on Monday night were buried in the Melton Cemetery. The funeral was a double one, two hearses and three mourning coaches being used, and the cortege which followed was a long one. The funeral started from Rockbank at 2.30 p. m. and many joined in on the road, arriving at the Melton Cemetery at 3.30. …. Christopher Lovell was buried in the Church of England portion of the cemetery, when the Rev. Perry Martin officiated at the graveside. The coffin-bearers and pall bearers were immediate friends and fellow workers of the deceased. The funeral arrangements were placed in the hands of Mr. A. Shebler, and were carried out to the satisfaction of everyone concerned, and much credit to himself.

The Bacchus Marsh Express
28 November 1914 p 2

RAILWAY CUTTING FATALITY AT MELTON.
Christopher Lovell (51) and Jas. Patrick Casey (36), railway employes, were struck down, and killed by a special live stock train while riding their tricycle between Melton and the viaduct over the Werribee river on the night of the 26th ult. An adjourned inquest was conducted, before the Coroner (Dr. R.H. Cole) at the City Morgue on Saturday.
….
He found a verdict of death from misadventure.-"Age."

Sources

Australian War Memorial
Service Record
Nominal Roll
Embarkation Roll
Newspaper accounts