LOVETT, Alfred John Henry
| Service Number: | 2919 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 July 1915, Lovett enlisted by choice and his 4 brothers quickly followed behind. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 26th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Melbourne Victoria Australia, 13 November 1880 |
| Home Town: | Milltown, Glenelg, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Jockey |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Hurlstone Park, 1962 |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Heywood St. Mary's Mission Church Great War Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2919, Lovett enlisted by choice and his 4 brothers quickly followed behind. | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 2919, 26th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 2919, 26th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 29 Sep 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2919, He was admitted to 1st Australian Field Ambulance, with a sprained left ankle and subsequently recorded a sprained back. He was later discharged to duty and rejoined Bn, in the field. | |
| 20 Nov 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2919, He was admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance, 20 November 1916 for scabies. He was then transferred to 39th Casualty Clearing Station, 24 November 1916. He was transmitted to 32nd Stationary Hospital, Wimereux, 30 November 1916, for influenza. The to No 1 Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, 7 December 1916. He transmitted to Base Details, Etaples, 14 December 1916. He rejoined the unit, 10 January 1917. | |
| 27 Jan 1917: | Wounded Private, 2919, He was admitted to 2nd Australian Field Ambulance, 27 January 1917 to treat myalgia. He then rejoined unit, 3rd Light Trench Mortar Battery, 3 February 1917. | |
| 21 Mar 1917: | Wounded Private, 2919, He was admitted to 1st Division Rest Station, 21 March 1917 for treatment of bronchitis, then transferred to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station; to 6th General hospital, Rouen, 23 March 1917 for debility. Then to No 2 Convalescent Depot, Rouen, 29 March 1917; to England, 17 April 1917, and admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham. Later transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 4 May 1917. Then discharged on furlough, 11 May 1917, to report to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 26 May 1917. | |
| 17 Jun 1918: | Discharged Australian Army (Post WW2), 2919, He was officially discharged due to being medically unfit with rheumatism and also age requirements. He was discharged in Melbourne, 17 June 1918. |
Alfred John Henry Lovett
The Lovett brothers: From Aboriginal Victoria
The brave men of the Gunditjmara garrison
First family group to be inducted to the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll
The Lovett brothers occupy a special place in the history, not just of Australia, but also of the Commonwealth. Four of the brothers served in both World War One (WWI) and World War Two (WWII). Their unique family story has come to symbolise the contribution that thousands of Aboriginal men and women have made to the defence of Australia, even at a time when citizenship rights were denied to them at home.
Alfred, Leonard, Frederick, Edward and Herbert were the sons of James Lovett, an Aboriginal man from South Australia, and Hannah (née McDonald), a descendant of the Kerrup-Jmara clan of the Gunditjmara nation in Western Victoria. As a child, Hannah, her mother, and her brother, were among the first Aboriginal people at Lake Condah Mission after it was established in 1862. Hannah went on to have 13 children, among them five boys who would enlist to fight in WWI.
Against the odds, all five brothers returned home safely. Although the Great War had been an equaliser of men — racism had no place in the trenches — little had changed in civilian life. After the closure of Lake Condah Mission in 1919 the Lovett family made a living in the surrounding district.
Four of the five original brothers re-enlisted during WWII, however due to their age they served within Australia. Their younger brother, Samuel, and several other family members also served in Australia and overseas. All returned unharmed, as has every member of the Lovett family who has served in the Australian Armed Forces — 21 men and women in total.
As a result of the heroic service of the Lovett brothers and their post-war activism in support of the service of Indigenous soldiers, Aboriginal service men and women today are given the support and recognition they deserve.
Nigel Steel, a historian at the Imperial War Museum in London, once stated that he knew of no other record of military service by a single family that matched that of the Lovett family. Fittingly, the building that contains the Department of Veteran's Affairs in Canberra was renamed Lovett Tower in honour of their distinguished military contribution.
The Lovett brothers were descended from a long line of heroic warriors; the 'Fighting Gunditjmara' people who saw conflict from the earliest days of European settlement. While there is pain in these stories, they also offer lessons for us all: in courage, resilience and hope.
Alfred John Henry Lovett
1880-1962
Private Alfred Lovett enlisted on 29 July 1915, just before his 36th birthday. After training in the Middle East from October 1915 to March 1916, he fought with the 26th Battalion. He later transferred to the 12th Battalion.
Alfred participated in the battle of the Somme in France, including battles for Poziéres and Mouquet Farm. He returned to Australia in March 1918 and was discharged in June that same year. He was awarded three service medals.
As a civilian, Alfred worked as a horse breaker and trainer near Casterton. He was also a well-known jockey. He married Sarah Spring, from Hamilton, with whom he had two sons. They ran a farm in the region. As the eldest brother, Alfred was ineligible to enlist in WWII due to his age.
Alfred passed away in 1962 at the age of 78.
Submitted 27 May 2019 by Evan Evans
Biography contributed by Trinity College
Alfred John Henry Lovett was the first born of 12 children. He was one of the Gunditjmara people from Victoria western. He was born to James Lovett, an aboriginal man from South Australia and his mother Hannah Lovett, a descendant of the Kerrup-Jmara clan of the Gunditjmara nation.
At aged 35, Alfred Lovett decided to join the enlist in the Australian Imperial Force. Four of his brothers wanted to follow his footsteps. A well known jockey, Alfred transferred to France where he was taken on strength by the 12th Battalion. Soon after arrival, Alfred was involved in the battle of Pozières, the AIF sustaining as many casualties in six weeks as they had in the entire Gallipoli campaign.
While on active service Alfred suffered from mumps, influenza, and bronchitis and needed medical treatment each time.
After nearly two years he was declared medically unfit and returned to Australia. Alfred and all his brothers lived to see their families again.
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