Pte 17879 Harold John Lover

• Age: 21
• From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Harold John Lover was born in 1895 at Birkenhead the son of Henry Bradden Lover and his wife Ellen Mary (née Larway). His parents married on the 28th October 1894 at St Timothy's Church, Everton. Henry was a 28 year old engine driver of 23 Talbot Street, father Henry a mariner, whilst Ellen was aged 23 of Mary Terrace, father John a tailor. His father had been widowed the previous year and had a daughter Caroline, born in 1889. Another daughter Adelaide had died at age 3. Caroline was raised with their four children: Harold had younger siblings Henry Frederick, Mary Elizabeth, and Francis Joseph.

At the time of the 1901 census the family is living at 10 Tudor Road, Birkenhead. His father, 34, is a railway engine driver, his mother is 29.  Caroline is 12, Harold 5, Henry 4, and Mary 2 years old

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 14 Olive Mount, Tranmere. Harold's father, Henry, is shown as being aged 44, born in 1867 in Liverpool, his occupation is a railway engine driver. His mother Ellen is aged 39, born 1872 in Liverpool. Thier children were born in Tranmere, Birkenhead. They have been married for seventeen years and have five children, Harold aged 15, born 1896 is a clerk in a railway company office, Henry aged 14, born 1897, Elizabeth aged 12, born 1899 and Francis aged 9, born 1902 are at school. Also living with the family is Caroline Lover, his half-sister, is aged 22, born 1889 in Liverpool.

Prior to the war Harold was employed by Messrs Houlder Bros, Ship-owners of Liverpool.

Harold enlisted in Liverpool joining the 19^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 17879.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 21, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.    

Like so many other Liverpool Pals killed at Guillemont, Harold was originally posted as Missing and an appeal for information was included in the Birkenhead News on 18th November 1916:

We give a portrait of Pte.Harold Lover, of the King's Liverpool Regt.,who has been missing since Sunday,July 30th. He was in the company commanded by the late Captain Walter Willmer, who it may be remembered was killed on July 30th whilst leading his men in an attack on the enemy trenches. Prior to the war Pte.Lover was employed by Messrs.Houlder Bros., ship owners, of Liverpool. News concerning him will be gladly received by his mother, Mrs.Lover, at 14, Olive Mount, Higher Tranmere

His brother Henry, address 14 Olive Mount, contacted the International Red Cross in hopes that Harold had been taken prisoner, but was notified in a reply dated 08th December 1916 that they held no information on Harold.

His parents did not hear official news of his death until over a year later, as reported in the Birkenhead News on 01st September 1917 under the headline;

“Fateful Intelligence After A Year” 

“Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Lover of 14 Olive Mount, Tranmere, Birkenhead, have received official notice from the War Office that their son, Pte. Harold Lover of the “Pals” -19th Battn. Liverpool Regt., has been killed in action.  Apparently this sad event took place so long ago as July 30th, 1916, during the great “push” in France about that period, but not until now has definite intelligence of Pte. Lover’s decease been forthcoming.  Prior to the war the young Lover (he was only 21 years of age) had been in the service of Messrs. Houlder Brothers, the prominent firm of Liverpool steamship owners.  He completed his education at the Birkenhead Higher Elementary School, and had been a member of St. Catherine’s Church Choir, Tranmere.  A young man of a quiet disposition, the late soldier had many friends in Birkenhead, who will sincerely regret his loss, and deep sympathy is extended to his relatives.  Mr. and Mrs. Lover have another son, Trooper Harry Lover, who was formerly engaged in the “Birkenhead News“ offices - doing duty for his country with the Cheshire Yeomanry.”

Harold's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Harold is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 24 Left 

Men of Birkenhead Cenotaph, Birkenhead

Higher Elementary School, Birkenhead 

He earned his three medals.

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10s went to his mother. From the pension card in the name of his mother it is not clear whether a pension was awarded or if so, how much.

His brother Harry enlisted in December 1915 and served in a number of regiments, including the R.A.S.C., Cheshire Yeomanry, and the R.D.C.  He arrived in France after the Armistice in December 1918 and served in the Intelligence Corps with the Army of Occupation.  He was demobbed in December 1919.  Harry married in 1929 and had a son he called Harold.

In 1939 his parents are living in Bebington, Cheshire.  His father, 73, is a retired railway engine driver, his mother is 68, and daughter Mary E. is 41.

His father died in 1956 at the age of 89 and his mother the following year aged 85. 

We currently have no further information on Harold John Lover, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.