Reeves, Arthur Charles

Summary

Father: Alfred William REEVES
Mother: Fanny WOOLGAR

Birth: c1895
Birth Source: FreBMD and census

Death: 1917
Death Source: CWGC

Spouse1:

Narrative

Arthur Charles Reeves was the fourth known child of Alfred William Reeves and his wife Fanny (nee WOOLGAR). His birth was recorded during the first quarter of 1895, in the Newbury Registration District.

On the 1901 census Arthur is found living with his parents at 9 Speen View Terrace, Newbury. He is six years old and his place of birth is recorded as Newbury, Berkshire. In addition to his parents, there are two elder and two younger siblings shown.

On the 1911 census Arthur is again found living in the parental home, but now at 18 Briants Avenue, Caversham, Oxfordshire. He is sixteen years old and Newbury is again given as his place of birth. He (and his younger brother Albert) is employed as Grocer's Errand Boy. In addition to his parents there are nine of his siblings, ranging in ages from 20 years to 1 month living in the same household.

It is likely that Arthur enlisted in the Army and joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment as Private 12878 relatively soon after WW1 started. (See Research Note 1 below.) We know from his Medal Card that he was serving in France from late July 1915. That same card also notes he was Killed in Action.

Arthur's death is recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website as Arthur Charles Reeves.   He was serving as Private 12878 of "A" Company of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment and died in May 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, in the Pas de Calais département of France (FR-62).   The CWGC additionally notes "Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Reeves, of 18, Briants Avenue, Caversham, Reading".

The death of Private 12878 of the Berkshire Regiment is included in the GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921. Army (other Ranks) page 3012 as Arthur C. Reeves, year 1917, vol I.53, page 53.

The "UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929" entry for Private 12878 Arthur Charles Reeves shows him serving with the 1st Battalion of The Royal Berkshire Regiment and that he died in France. It shows his sole legatee as his mother, Fanny. This would strongly suggest he was unmarried.

There is also a record in Soldiers Died in the Great War for Private 12878 Arthur Charles Reeves. It gives his place of birth as Newbury and his place of residence as Lower Caversham, Berkshire. (See Research Note 2 below.)

Research Notes

(1) Based on information found at http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/royal-berkshire-regiment-1st-2nd.html, we know that the Royal Berkshire Regiment allocated number 10151 in March 1914. Over the previous five or so years, they typically allocated a new number every second day but that would have dramatically changed with the out break of WW1.

(2) Boundary changes mean that prior to 1914 Caversham was part of Henley Registration District, Oxfordshire and subsequently part of Reading Registration District, Berkshire.

Sources

Birth:        1895, March quarter, Newbury 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/1620400/REEVES, ARTHUR CHARLES
                 
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1120, Folio 70 reverse, Page 24
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 08059, Reg.Dist. 150 (Henley), Sub Dist. 2 (Caversham), Enum.Dist. 7, Schedule 089

From Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1918 at FindMyPast

First name(s) 		ARTHUR CHARLES
Last name 		REEVES
Service number 		12878
Rank 			PRIVATE
Regiment 		Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment)
Battalion 		1st Battalion.
Birth place 		NEWBURY
Residence 		LOWER CAVERSHAM, BERKS
Enlistment place	READING
Death year 	   	1917
Death day 		2
Death month 		5
Cause of death 		Killed in action
Death place 		France & Flanders
Theatre of war 		Western European Theatre