CWGC thanks the Thiepval Database Project for this story. It summarises information held at the Thiepval Visitor Centre.

Alan was the only child of Percy George (an auctioneer and surveyor) and Emma Loveitt of Anlaby, Davenport Road, Coventry. His father had been connected with the Volunteers for twenty years and retired with the rank of Captain.

He was educated at Rugby School (1910 to 1914) and then went up to St. John’s College, Oxford, where he remained, reading for the Bar, until June 1915.

He obtained a commission in August 1915, went to Le Havre to complete his training in the following January, and joined his regiment at the front in March 1916.

Alan died on 25th July 1916, aged 20, killed by rifle fire whilst reconnoitring the ground ahead of an attack near Pozières. On the day he died he had been sent out on a night patrol near Pozières to reconnoitre a German strong post. He was shot as he was re-entering the trenches.

His major wrote: " …he surprised us all with his bravery. He was so young and did not look at all strong, and yet he was absolutely cool under fire and always carried out his duties most religiously. I always felt I could absolutely rely on him when he was left in charge of a trench. His death was a great blow to us all: we could ill afford to lose so good an Officer…"

Second Lieutenant, Alan P C Loveitt, 7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment has no known grave and is commemorated on Pier and Face 10B of the Thiepval Memorial to The Missing on The Somme in France.

Shortly after his death his parents donated £1,000 to the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital to dedicate two beds in Alan’s memory.