Reeves, George Charles

Summary

Father: William REEVES
Mother: Ellen Louisa PHILLIPS

Birth: 1882
Birth Source: FreeBMD and Census

Death: 1916
Death Source: CWCG

Spouse1: Nellie WELLER

Narrative

George Charles REEVES is the eldest of six known children of William REEVES and his wife Ellen Louisa (nee PHILLIPS). His birth was registered during the fourth quarter of 1882 in the Hastings Registration District.

On the 1891 census George appears, along with two younger sisters and a younger brother, in his parent's household at Chapel Terrace in Hastings, Sussex. George is eight years old and his place of birth is given as St Leonards, Sussex.

At the time of the 1901 census George again appears in his parent's household. He is now 18 years old and his place of birth is again given as St Leonards, Sussex. He is employed as a Bricklayer's Labourer. In addition to his parents his five younger siblings complete the household.

It is likely George enlisted in the Royal Sussex Regiment in late 1903 where is Regimental Number was L/7695. (See Research Note below). It is likely he signed up for 10 years, but might have expected to serve only four years. For the remaining six years he would have been a member of the Army Reserve but would have returned to civilian life.

FreeBMD records the marriage of George Charles REEVES and Nellie WELLER during the fourth quarter of 1907 in the Hastings Registration District.
The known and probable children of George and his wife Nellie (nee WELLER) are

1. Nellie REEVES, born 1908
2. George A REEVES, born 1912

Son George's affiliation is based on the mother's maiden name of WELLER from the FreeBMD indices.

On the 1911 census George and Nellie are living at 1 Alma Villas in the Silverhill area of St Leonards, Sussex. George is now 28 years old and working as a General Labourer for a Building Contractor. In addition to his wife Nellie, their 2 year old daughter, also Nellie, completes the household.

It is likely that George had remained in the Army Reserve and he was immediately recalled on the out break of WW1, since his medal card indicates he had rejoined 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment and was overseas on 12 August 1914.

George's death is recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website as George Charles Reeves.   He was serving as Serjeant L/7695 in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment and died in August 1916. His remains were reburied in the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, which lies just to the west of Longueval in the Somme département in northern France (FR-80).   The CWGC website additionally notes "Son of William and Ellen Reeves; husband of Nellie Reeves, of 24, Alma Villas, Silverhill, St. Leonards-on-Sea. Born at Hastings."

The death of Sergeant L/7695 of the Royal Sussex Regiment is included in the GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921. Army (Other Ranks) page 3012 as Charles G Reeves (sic), year 1916, vol I.73, page 206.

The "UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929" entry for Sergeant 7695 George Charles Reeves shows him serving with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. It shows his death was presumed on or since 17 August 1916. The distribution of his effects were made to his widow Nellie.

George's sacrifice is recorded on the Hastings and St Leonards War Memorial along with two other individuals who share the surname Reeves; Ernest Temple Reeves and Thomas Reeves. ²

Research Notes

(1) The likely date of George's enlistment in the Royal Sussex Regiment is based on information found at http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/royal-sussex-regiment-1st-2nd.html. It shows that soldier 7347 joined on 14 January 1903 and 7739 on 22 January 1904.

Sources

Birth:        FreeBMD 1882, December quarter, Hastings Registration District
Baptism:  
Marriage: FreeBMD 1907, December quarter, Hastings Registration District
Death:      GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921. Army (Other Ranks) page 3012 as Charles G Reeves (sic)
                 CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/553805/REEVES, GEORGE CHARLES

1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0672, Folio ~~ face, Page 3 (folio number not discernible)
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0872, Folio 79 face, Page 19
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 4767, Reg.Dist. 69 (Hastings), Sub Dist. 3, (St Mary Magdalen), Enum.Dist. 17, Schedule 199

¹   http://www.memorialtranscripts.co.uk/ accessed 24 September 2015
²   http://www.memorialtranscripts.co.uk/Compressed/sussex_east_west_ww1.html

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

First name(s)           GEORGE CHARLES
Last name               REEVES
Service number          L/7695
Rank                    SERGT.
Regiment                Royal Sussex Regiment
Battalion               2nd Battalion.
Birth place             ST. MATTHEW'S, SUSSEX
Residence               -
Enlistment place        HASTINGS
Death year              1916
Death day               17
Death month             8
Cause of death          Killed in action
Death place             British Expeditionary Force
Theatre of war          Western European Theatre