A 'Crosby' family group of 3, to a Chief Officer whose sister & niece were killed during the 'Liverpool Blitz' by enemy bombs: Fireman Richard Lovelady (Father) & Chief Fire Officer 'Harry' Rothwell Lovelady (son), Crosby Fire Brigade

a). National Fire Brigades Union. Bronze issue Long Service Medal, with 2 x 'Five Years' clasps & 1st type integral top brooch bar. Numbered 948 on rim (Richard Lovelady)

A scarce confirmed 'Victorian' issue.

Confirmed as an award presented to the recipient at a formal medal presentation at Crosby Fire Brigade Station on, 24 February 1900 (reference the Liverpool Mercury issue of 26 February 1900, for a long article on the medal presentation). Fireman Richard Lovelady was one of seven Fireman of the Crosby Fire Brigade being awarded a National Fire Brigade Union bronze log service medal, of which Fireman Lovelady was one of five men receiving the medal for 15 years service, while another two men, received bronze medals for 10 years service. In addition to the medals, the seven medal recipients each received an envelope that contained a 'gold coin'

b). Pair: Chief Fire Officer, Crosby Fire Brigade

- Defence Medal
- National Fire Brigades Association. Bronze 10 years long service medal, inc 'Ten Years' & 2 x different pattern 'Five Years' bars, riband fitted with original brooch bar (9009 Harry Rothwell Lovelady.)

Group photographs: Several group photos of the Crosby Fire Brigade are accessible on the internet, including Richard, 'Harry' & other Lovelady's who served in the Crosby Fire Brigade over the years 1900-1940

Reference Crosby Herald issue of 22 February 1996:

Quote,

All fired up

Our recent photograph of Crosby Fire Brigade (issue of 1 February 1996) in the 30's had brought information from sons of the late Chief Officer Harry Lovelady, who is shown sitting in the centre of the picture. They are Mr Ronald Lovelady of Coronation Road, Crosby and Mr Kenneth Lovelady of Park Lane West, Netherton.

Mr Harry Lovelady was appointed Chief Fire Officer in 1929 and remained in that position until the creation of the AFS-NFS circa 1942, Mr Lovelady joined the Crosby Brigade after he was invalided out of the Army in the Great War in 1918. He retired in 1944.

During his service he lived in Richmond Terrace (now the site of Sainsbury's Store) later moving to the College Road fire headquarters.

The photograph is believed to have been taken in 1932. Known names are: T. Mercer, W. Lovelady, T. Boakes, R. Lovelady, H. Leatherbarrow, H. Orme, T. Reilly, W. Lee, Tunnock and R. Bailey, R. Evans, T. Mawdsley, G. Fairclough. Chief Officer J. Dickinson, Lee and T. Mercer.

In addition to the late Mr. Harry Lovelady's service with the Crosby Fire Brigade, Mr Kenneth Lovelady is a former Station Officer with Bootle Fire Brigade and Mr Ronald Lovelady's son Roy is at present serving as a sub officer with Merseyside Fire Brigade.

Unquote.

Merseyside Blitz and Double Family Tragedy: On, 3 May 1941, Marjorie Evenson (nee Lovelady, born 26/02/1882 ) widow of Thomas Evenson, daughter of Richard Lovelady & sister of Harry R. Lovelady, and Evenson grandaughter of Richard Lovelady / niece of Harry. R. Lovelady, were both killed during an enemy 'Luftwaffe' Bombing Raid, at the time of the Merseyside Blitz. Prior to their deaths, the Evenson's had been resident at 23 Bulwer Street, Bootle, Lancashire (Bootle is just 1 mile distant from Crosby). Reference The Imperial War Museum, it is recorded that during the first eight days of May 1941, Merseyside was bombed almost every night. 1,900 people were killed, 1,450 seriously wounded and 70,000 made homeless. In Bootle, 8,000 out of 17,000 houses were destroyed or damaged. St Luke's Church, one of many of the city's churches that were destroyed, was kept as a ruin as a permanent memorial of the May Blitz. During the many air raids carried out during the Liverpool & Merseyside Blitz, Chief

Richard Lovelady, son of Thomas Lovelady & Mary Lovelady (nee Lupton) was a native of Crosby, Lancashire, England, where he was born circa 1851. The 1911 National Census for England & Wales shows Richard employed as a 'Scavenger' with the Crosby Urban District Council employed. Richard was for many years a loyal volunteer member of the Crosby Fire Brigade - a descendent claiming that he was an original member of the Crosby Fire Brigade in 1869 (reference an artcile published in the Liverpool Echo issue of, 11 January 1973). Richard Lovelady married Sarah Jane Rothwell in 1873, and together the couple were subsequently blessed with nine children comprising 4 x sons & 5 x daughters. Richard Lovelady died in Crosby, Lancashire, England, sometime during the first quarter of 1912. Several of Richard's son's also served as members of the Crosby Fire Brigade, and through to the 1990's at least two descendant's were still serving in nearby Merseyside Fire Services. Henry 'Harry' Rothwell Lovelady, was the third son of Richard & Mary Lovelady, and was born in, Crosby, on, 4 August 1890. Henry 'Harry' Rothwell Lovelady became a long serving 'Chief Fire Officer' of the Crosby Fire Brigade. At the time of the compilation of the 1939 National Register for England and Wales he is shown therein recorded as 'Chief Officer Fire Brigade, at which time he was resident with his family at, 166 College Street, Crosby. 'Harry' Lovelady died at Crosby, Lancashire, sometime during the third quarter of 1956

A very good local 'Crosby' history multi-generational 'Fire Brigade' group to a family that served in the Crosby Fire Brigade, including the Chief Fire Officer, who served throughout the Liverpool & Merseyside Blitz 1940-1941

Condition: VF & better

Code: 23628