Author
Ben Lovegrove
Branch
Army
Personal Stories
James 'Jim' William Liddell Lovegrove, eldest son of Brigadier Clifton George Lovegrove, joined the 257th Field Battery, Royal Artillery (T) Lee Green, Middlesex, October 1936, aged 14 years. Mobilised for War as No.861783 Boy Lovegrove, 1st September 1939. 
By special leave, he took Higher Certificate examinations June 1940, having mustered Gunner at Shrapnel Barracks, Woolwich on attaining the age of 17.
After training at various Royal Artillery establishments, Jim was posted to the 18th Field Regiment, R.A., and embarked at Liverpool for India circa April 1942.
He attended the School of Artillery, Belgaum, Maharatta State and was commissioned (War Emergency) on 12th September 1943 and promoted War Substantive Lieutenant on 12th March 1944.
Jim served in the 20th Indian Division, 14th Army, in Assam and North Burma, 1943-45. The 20th Indian Division was opposing the Japanese 15th Division at Tiddim, Imphal, Ukhrul and Kohima.
After one light and two severe bouts of malaria MT he was removed to Base Hospitals at Poona and Secunderabad, and finally sent back to England in April 1945.
Jim is pictured, front row eighth from right, with members of the 20th Indian Division, 14th Army, somewhere in India or Burma, circa 1944.