LOVEDAY, Arthur Collins - 4777
| Original items held by the Army Museum of Western Australia |
| Conflict | World War 1 |
|---|---|
| Service Arm | Australian Imperial Force |
| Unit | 28th Infantry Battalion |
| Service No. | 4777 |
| Service Arm | Army |
| Date of Birth | 1895 |
| Date of Death | 12 Aug 1918 |
| Relatives | Father - Arthur Loveday |
Letter to Lieut Arthur Loveday from his father, dated 1st July 1917.
Rottnest Gaol
1.7.17
My Dear Art,
You will see by this letter that I am over at Rottnest, but only temporary for 1 month which is quite long enough for me. This is the
second time since you went away. Dear Art we have been very pleased to receive all your letters that you send, but there seems to be a
break this last few months, as we only receive a card. we trust that you are well & hope God will be pleased to spare your life & that you
may return to us again this is the daily prayer of us all. From what we see in our papers the prospects of peace are a long way off. We
one & all wish this horrible war would cease. Australia I fear is in for a very hard time everything is being put up to an exhorbitant
price & living is being reduced to a mere existence. the future looks very gloomy. my Dear Son we have much to be thankful for that you so
far have escaped while so many have fallen to return no more. we earnestly pray that this may not be your lot & hope to see you again. My
Dear Art ask God to keep you & try to do what is honourable & right so that what ever the end brings you may have no remorse - you are
constantly in our thoughts & we eagerly look for every mail & we are very pleased if we only just receive a card but would prefer a letter
if you can get the time to write. There is not much news here it is all war & recruiting nothing else seems to be thought of some are
advocating conscription it looks very much as if it may come, it probably will if the war continues. we heard of your having met Doug
McKay. I hope these few lines will find you alright with much love I close & remain Your Dear father
A Loveday
Letter from Lieut Arthur Loveday to his family after hearing of the death of his father, dated 9th October 1917.
It is impossible to get a black edged envelope, but you know what my feelings are like,
God be with you all
In the Field, France
Oct 9th 1917
My dear Mother, Sisters & Brother
This has been a sad week for me, the world seems awfully dark. Everything seem wrong. I received the cable about poor old Dad last week, it
nearly broke my heart. I cannot hardly realise that he has gone. I'm sure it must have been a terrible blow to you all, I only wish I could
have been home & seen him again, it seems so sad to think that I shall never see my poor Father again, the only thing is we must trust in
God, & ask him to help us. There is one thing, Mum we can say about our dad, he was a gentleman, & we were very fortunate in being blessed
with such a good father, & I'm sure if ever there is a place in heaven, there is a place for our Dad.
I'm sure God will bless you all, & help us all in our trouble. Things at present here are very hard we are in the full midst of the great
Flanders battle. I suppose by the papers, you will see what a prominent part the Australians are playing; Man they are the best fighting
race in Europe. The fearset soldiers made. They do their jobs poor chaps, it would make your heart bleed to see them. We have suffered very
heavy, but the Brutal Hun has suffered far worse, he has been doing a lot of bomb dropping here lately, he has just bombed our advanced
dressing station & all hands have had to get out, its terribly wicked to see our boys straggling out, I'm afraid our boys will do for every
german in our Country when we get back.
I'm afraid the war will not finish this year, although Fritz is a beaten man, the sacrifices to be made yet are enormous.
He did for such a lot of my mates last time, such fine fellows too, it nearly makes your heart bleed, but Thank God there will come a day.
I received Mags 2 letters last mail & one from you & that letter of dads, which all probably was his last, poor old chap. I have kept it.
You still mention where you get no letters, I cannot understand it, I've written you 4 or 5 letters while I was at the school, I expect to
get my Commission after this stunt, providing God spares me.
I haven't seen anything of Alf Robinson. I do hope he is O.K. I met one of Supt Hann boys yesterday, also one of Leed's sons is in my
platoon.
I suppose you surely know by now I'm a confirmed Sgt, I was promised 6 mths in England, when I wrote last, but I'm afraid it is knocked in
the head now, I haven't heard from England for quite a while, I hope they are all well, I suppose you received my letter with Mrs H letter
enclosed, giving account of Mr H death, poor old soul, her life has not been too happy. The Hun has been giving England a bad time with
bombs, but now they are beginning to wak work, we are going to have reprisals. I see he (the hun) is crying out all ready.
It will be a great thing when this great ordeal is over, Mum in one of my letters I wrote for some money for you to send me to go on leave
with, do not send it now as you will be wanting all now, I shall allot you a few more shillings as soon as I come from leave, do you get my
allotment regular, Well my dear Comrades I'm afraid I cannot write much more, there is a terrific bombardment going on, & things are only
middling so will close, & Sincerely pray that Gods blessing will rest on you all all,
Au Revoir, with Tons of love to all
Your Loving Art
Kisses for Don, Mary, Douglas, Arthur
Details of the death of Arthur Loveday.
Copy of Recommendation of Lt A.C. Loveday
Shortly after our attack which began on the morning of August 8th, our Company Commander became a casualty, Lieut. Loveday immediately took
Command and led the Company on.
The Tanks in their forward motion failed to locate an Enemy Strong Post, this was observed by Mr. Loveday who, without hesitation, rushed
forward and with bombs and a revolver put the Gun Team out of action and captured the Gun thus enabling our advance to continue.
On reaching our objective, a distance of 3,500 Yards, he supervised the consolidation of the Company and by his general conduct greatly
increased the moral of the men.
In the early hours of the 11th Aug we again attacked Lieut Loveday showed great leadership and determination to reach the objective despite
very heavy rifle and Machine Gun fire; on reaching our objective the fusilade of Bullets seemed to increase, nevertheless Mr. Loveday moved
about freely, posting Covering Parties supervising our consolidation and scattering words of cheer to the Boys (it was whilst doing this he
was wounded but we never dreamt it would turn out fatal)
His coolness greatly encouraged the men
(signed by) Officers N.C.O.s & men of 'A' Company - Battalion
Perhaps this may not seem much to you but I was with him practically the whole time and I can assure you he worked extremely hard and only
for him we would not have done half so well. HWR
14th Aug 1918
To
Officer Commanding
'A' Company
28th Battalion A.I.F.
Shortly after the beginning of our attacks on the morning of 8th inst my Platoon got somewhat mixed, owing to the thickness of the
prevailing mist. Lieut Loveday my Platoon Commander mustered the men in his vicinity, organised them into a platoon and lead them on in
rear of the Tanks. In the darkness the tanks failed to locate an enemy Machine Gun position, this post was observed by Lieut Loveday, who
without hesitation attacked the team, putting them out of action and capturing the Gun.
During this operation Lieut J. Hoppkins who was Company Commander became a Casualty, Lieut Loveday immediately took over Command of the
Company and moved forward to the objective, supervised the consolidation and by his general conduct greatly helped the Moral of the men.
On the 11th inst. Lieut Loveday showed great leadership and determination to reach the objective and whilst the Company were
consolidating, he, regardless of heavy rifle and Machine Gun fire moved about freely posting Covering Parties and supervising the
Consolidation.
His coolness throughout the operation greatly encouraged his men.
[52 signatures]
28th Battalion Lieut A.C. Loveday
'He was in A.Coy and was one of the most popular officers we have had. The battalion was attacking in front of Harbonniers. I was not near
him when he was wounded, but know that he was taken to the Daours casualty Cleaing Station where he died two days later and was buried in
the cemetery there where I saw his grave. I think the whole Battalion knows the facts of his burial.'
Informant. Q/M/S. C.O. Sheard. 5306
Billets, Boulogne. 5/10/18
France
Tuesday 13.8.18
Dear May,
No doubt long before these few lines reach you, you will have been advised through Military Authorities that your brother Arthur died from
wounds on the evening of the 12th of August at C.C.S. no. 55 at Daours. No doubt some of his brother officers will write to you and give
you more particulars than I can, but as I went and saw him twice after he went through our dressing station, I thought you would like to
know how he passed away.
There was a big 'stunt' on last Sunday morning and I was keeping a good look out for the 28th boys as I knew there would be a number coming
through, but in the rush, and hundreds coming in, I missed him and I was not aware that he had been wounded until 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon,
one of the boys came in from the line and asked what he was like when he passed through our hands. I looked up the book and found that he
had gone through earlier in the day, so I got one of our cars and went down to C.C.S.
I had some trouble to find him at first, in fact I was almost giving up hope of finding him, but one of the Sisters came to my rescue and
found him for me. I stayed with him from 6 p.m. to 9 pm, he was cheerful when I left him at 9 pm and waiting his turn to go to the
operating room. I went down again last evening arriving there at a few minutes to 6 pm I got a shock. I expected to find him doing well,
but he had just passed away, as I arrived there. The Sister told me that he went in for his operation early in the morning (Monday) and
never gained consciousness again - So, por boy, he was unconscious all day and passed away very peacefully indeed.
I had a long talk with Arthur on Sunday evening, he told me he took his Company in, the bombardment commenced at 4 am (Sunday 11th) at
4.30 am they went over and got their objectives and were digging in when a Fritz got busy on to them with a Machine gun. Arthur called for
volunteers to go with him to fix Fritz up and they had only gone 15 yards when he got Arthur (I saw the wound), the shot struck him just
near the right collar bone and went down into his lungs. Arthur looked well on Sunday evening, but the Major told me yesterday evening,
that it was only his wonderful courage that kept him up and as soon as he was chloroformed and examined they knew that he never had a hope
of pulling through, it was only a small surface wound, but the shot had done great damage to the right lung and other organs.
Arthur asked me on Sunday evening to write to you and let you know that he was wounded, and his next letters would be from England. Little
did I think on Sunday evening that it would be my sad lot to have to write a letter of this description to you. May dear please accept my
sincere sympathy in your sad loss; not only have you lost a good brother, but the Battalion has lost one of the finest men & Officers that
it ever had, loved by all who knew him. I liked Arthur from the first day I met him in France and always went to see him when the chance
came along. It is hard May to have to try to bear up under these trying circumstances, but you must take courage from the fact your Brother
died a brave man, fighting for his country and loved ones at home,
believe me
your sincerely
(Sgd E. Trezise)
P.S. Arthur's personal effects will be sent home through the Military Channels.
If there is anything that I can do for you May, please let me know, I will be only too glad to do anything for you (Ern)
Letter written to Lieut Arthur Loveday's mother from his friend Renee Locquet, dated 10th December 1918.
10-12-18 Amiens 44 Rue de Cack
(Somme) France
Dear Madam,
Perhaps you will be very surprised to receive a letter from France, but I cannot help writing you, although I write in English rather bad.
I am sure you will not mind me writing to you, when you know that I have known your dear son, Arthur Loveday, and that I was his little
french friend. I must tell you how I happen to know him. I was at Training College for teachers, and I had a friend who had Australian
correspondents. I had always been wanting to go strong with my English, and she offered me to ask her friend, Lieut. Preston if he had a
friend of him who could write to me.
Lieut. A. Loveday wrote then, telling me it would be a pleasure for him to correspond with a French girl. This was a long time ago, and I
found out that Art. was the best friend I could ever meet. I was so pleased to receive his good letters. I don't think any man can be
braver and more unselfish.
I live in Amiens, and you have perhaps heard of the numerous fights which have saved our town. The Australian troops saved Amiens, and we
will never forget it. But how many of those brave men shall never go home after such terrible fights. Arthur was there, but he never wrote
a word of complaint - never.
Later on, we had to leave our town which was bombarded. We had already spent eight nights in shelters - half dead with fear and tiring, the
aeros bombing from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. When the Bosche started the bombardment, we only made up our minds to quit the dear home.
You can guess how oppressed we were, leaving all, with poor mother in bad health and my father still prisoner in Switzerland.
I was Art. who helped me and comforted me, writing so good letters, and never speaking about him who was in the trenches. I have still his
letters. I had told him of our miseries. 'I could picture you as if you were my own Mother and sister' said he in one of his letters.
'Cheer up, sister' and I felt so comforted by all his sayings.
Truly, I can say I have never met such a good friend.
But once I sent him a little parcel containing views of Amiens and Rouen. I knew he would appreciate them because being at Rouen in the
college he was very interested by the P.C. I sent him. Alas - he never got that parcel. A few days after I received a parcel of chocolate
from him which had been sent more than a month before. I wrote to thank him-
He never recived my letters - I waited a month more. Nothing. I was wondering what had happened to my poor dear friend, and I wrote again
putting my address inside.
Then I received a letter from a friend of him telling me the terrible truth.
You cannot realise how I felt the loss of such a friend. Shall I tell you that, even now, I cannot help my tears ....
I have thought a great deal of you - his poor loving Mother. He often wrote about you and his Sisters, telling 'you and his sisters
were all the pride of his heart'.
He is buried near me. His grave is only a few miles from our town. God has permitted that his poor little friend could go and look
after his tomb. He is not alone in France and somebody well never regret that he saved her town and died for her country. As long as I
shall be able to do it, I shall put flowers over his grave, and you, his loving sisters May and Mab, may rest assured that
his loving heart now silent
neath a little wooden cross
is not alone somewhere in France.
Do you understand me, dear Madam, and do you forgive me for writing to you?
I should be so happy to receive a line from you or his sisters, to tell me that you accept me as a little friend, since I share your
sorrow, and that he was my friend always.
Yours sincerely,
Renee Locquet