Reeves, Alfred George

Summary

Father: Charles REEVES
Mother: Caroline Matilda WILDER

Birth: 1895 at Warfield, Berkshire
Birth Source: Census and FreeBMD

Death: 1916, France
Death Source: CWGC.org

Spouse1:

Narrative

Alfred George REEVES is the fourth of eleven children of Charles Reeves and his wife Caroline Matilda (nee WILDER). His birth was registered during the second quarter of 1895 in the Easthampstead Registration District, which includes Warfield, Berkshire.

On the 1901 census he appears as Alfred G Reeves in the home of his parents Charles and Caroline at Newell Green, Berkshire. He is shown as being 6 years old, born Warfield Berkshire and a School Boy. He is the fourth of seven siblings living in his parents home.

A decade later the 1911 census shows Alfred Reeves again living in his parent's home at West End, Warfield, Berkshire. His now 16 years of age and working as a Cow Boy (Farm Labourer). His birth place is again given as Warfield, Berkshire. He is the eldest of eight siblings living in the family home.

It is likely that Alfred enlisted in the Army and joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment as Private 13311 relatively soon after WW1 started. We know from his Medal Card that he was serving in France from early August 1915. That same card also notes he was Killed in Action.

The death of Alfred George Reeves is recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website as Alfred Reeves.   He was serving as Lance Corporal 13311 in the 8th Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment and died in France during August 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in the Somme département in northern France (FR-80).

The death of Private (sic) 13311 of the Berkshire Regiment is included in the GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921. Army (other Ranks) page 3012 as Alfred Reeves, year 1916, vol I.53, page 385.

The "UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929" entry for Private (sic) 13311 Alfred Reeves also shows him serving with the 8th Battalion of The Royal Berkshire Regiment and that he was killed in action. It shows an initial payment in December 1916 to his father Charles and a second in September 1919 to his sole legatee his mother, Caroline.

There is also an entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War for Lance Corporal 13311 Alfred Reeves of the 8th Battalion of the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment. It gives his birth place as Wokingham, Berkshire.

Research Notes

(1) Alfred's second cousin Frederick Reeves also served and died with the Royal Berkshire Regiment during WW1. Both were great-grandsons of William Reeves and his wife Jane (mnu).

Sources

Birth:        FreeBMD 1895, June quarter, Easthampstead Registration District
Baptism:  
Marriage:
Death:      GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921. Army (other Ranks) page 3012
                   CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1550724/REEVES, ALFRED

1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1162, Folio 112 face, Page 13
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 6672, Reg.Dist.124 (Easthampstead), Sub Dist. 1 (Bracknell), Enum.Dist. 6, Schedule 31


From Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919 at FindMyPast

First name(s) 		ALFRED
Last name 		REEVES
Service number 		13311
Rank 			L/CPL
Regiment 		Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment)
Battalion 		8th Battalion.
Birth place 		WOKINGHAM, BERKS
Residence 		BRACKNELL, BERKS
Enlistment place 	WOKINGHAM
Death year 		1916
Death day 		17
Death month 		8
Cause of death 		Killed in action
Death place 		France & Flanders