Reeves, Frederick John Richard

Summary

Father: Frederick William REEVES
Mother: Rose COLE

Birth: 1895
Birth Source: GRO Index

Death: 1915, Turkey
Death Source: CWGC

Spouse1:

Narrative

Frederick John Richard REEVES is the fifth of eight known children born to Frederick William REEVES and his wife Rose (nee COLE). His birth was recorded during the fourth quarter of 1895 in the West Ham Registration District. He was baptised at the Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene, East Ham in July 1898 (sic)

By the time of the 1901 census he appears with his parents on Mountfield Road, East Ham Essex. At five years old, he is youngest of the five children in the household and his place of birth was given as East Ham, Essex.

On the 1911 census Frederick is again to be found in his parents household, now at Alexandra Terrace, Gooseley Lane, East Ham. He is now fifteen years old, born East Ham, Essex and he is working as an Errand Boy.

Based on his Regimental Number 1696, it is likely that Frederick enlisted in the 4th Battalion of the Essex Regiment around mid October 1913. See Research Note 1 below. The 4th Battalion was originally part of the Territorial Force. See The Long. Long Trail.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that whilst serving as Private 1696 in the 4th Battalion of the Essex Regiment, Frederick John Richard Reeves died in Turkey in August 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey. The CWGC additionally notes he was "Son of Rose Reeves, of 4, Alexandra Terrace, Gooseley Lane, East Ham, London, and the late Frederick Reeves".

The GRO "Index to War Deaths 1914-1921 - Army (Other Ranks)" notes the death of Frederick Reeves Privet 1696 Essex (Regiment) during 1915.

The "UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929" entry for Private 1696 Frederick Reeves shows he served with the 1/4th Battalion, Essex Regiment. It shows his sole legatee as his mother Rose. This would strongly suggest he was unmarried. It notes two payments to her; the first in December 1915 and the second in August 1919.

There is also a record in Soldiers Died in the Great War for Private 1696 Frederick Reeves. It gives his place of birth as East Ham, Essex and notes he enlisted in Manor Park, Essex. It records he died of wounds.

Frederick's name is one of 1824 names commemorated on the East Ham War Memorial at Central Park, High Street South, East Ham,London E6. He is included near the top of the first column on the fourth panel. For images see the IWM site at https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/12324

Research Notes

(1) Looking at the Army Service Numbers for the 4th Battalion of the Essex Regiment posted by Paul Nixon as part of the Army Service Numbers blog we see that soldier 1666 joined on 12 September 1913 and number 1848 on 6 April 1914. Assuming volunteers enlisted at a consistent rate, then it is reasonable to assume Frederick (number 1696) joined around mid October 1913. Given his birth was registered during the fourth quarter of 1895, it was likely he enlisted on or shortly after his 18th birthday.

(2) Gallipoli, Turkey is in the modern Çanakkale Province, which has ISO 3166-2 code TR-17

Sources

Birth:        GRO Index     1895, December quarter, West Ham Registration District
Baptism:   Ancestry - from Essex Church of England Parish Registers held by Essex Record Office, Chelmsford, Essex, England
Marriage:
Death:      GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921 Army (Other Ranks) page 3013
                 CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/687468/FREDERICK%20JOHN%20RICHARD%20REEVES/

1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1605, Folio 97 reverse, Page 2, Schedule 9
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 9542, Reg. Dist. 188 (West Ham), Sub Dist. 5 (South East Ham), Enum.Dist. 23, Schedule 301

East Ham War Memorial https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/111374
                 see also          https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/12324

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

First name(s)        FREDERICK
Last name            REEVES
Service number       1696
Rank                 PRIVATE
Regiment             Essex Regiment
Battalion            4th Battalion.
Birth place          EAST HAM, ESSEX
Residence            EAST HAM
Enlistment place     MANOR PARK, ESSEX
Death year           1915
Death day            20
Death month          8
Cause of death       Died of wounds
Death place          Gallipoli
Theatre of war       Balkan Theatre