Reeves, Henry

Summary

Father: William REEVES
Mother: Rachel FLAKE

Birth: c1896
Birth Source: FreeBMD & Census

Death: 1915, Gallipoli, Turkey
Death Source: CWGC

Spouse1:

Narrative

Henry Reeves is the youngest of ten known children of William REEVES and his wife Rachel (nee FLAKE). FreeBMD notes his birth was registered during the first quarter of 1896 in the South Stoneham Registration District, Hampshire.

On the 1901 census, Henry appears in his parents home at 9 Bitterne Terrace, Bitterne, Hampshire. He is 5 years old and was born in Bitterne.

A decade later and the 1911 census again shows Henry living with his parents, now at 3 Heathlands Terrace, Bath Road, Bitterne. On the census schedule his given name has been written as "Hanery". He is now 15 years old and employed as an Apprentice Boot Maker.

It is believed that Henry's death is that recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website as simply H Reeves.  He was serving as Private 10792 of the 2nd Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment and died in September 1915. He is buried in the Azmak Cemetery, Suvla, Gallipoli, Turkey (which is in the modern Çanakkale Province, TR-17). The CWGC site has no further identifying information for this individual, but see Research Notes below.

Henry's sacrifice is recorded on the War Memorial in the Parish Church of The Holy Saviour, Bitterne as "Reeves H".  ⁷

Research Notes

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website records the death of Private 10792 H Reeves of the 2nd Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment on 16 September 1915. The CWGC site has no further identifying information for this individual.

The GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921 Army (Other Ranks) shows the given name of Private 10792 Reeves as Harry and confirms he was serving in the Hampshire Regiment when he died in 1915.

There is also a Medal Index Card for Private 10792 Harry Reeves of the Hampshire Regiment. It records he entered the Balkans Theatre of War on 28 August 1915 and that he was K(illed) in A(ction).

The "National Roll of the Great War" carries on page 320 of the Southampton volume the following entry in the left hand column

REEVES, H., Private, 2nd Hampshire Regiment.
He volunteered in 1914, and after his training was drafted to the Dardanelles. He took part in many important engagements on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and was killed in action there on September 16th, 1915. He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.

3 Bath Road, Bitterne, Hants.                                           X5379B

There are three entries on Page 320 of the Southampton volume of the "National Roll of the Great War" sharing the same address of 3 Bath Road Bitterne and the same reference prefix of X5379. Entry X5379A is for Reeves, G. and entry X5379C is for Reeves, W.

Based on the co-incidence of the address and date of death, there is very little doubt these entries all refer to this Henry Reeves who is known to have had elder brothers William and George.

Thus far enlistment papers have not been identified for Henry/Harry.

Sources

Birth:        FreeBMD 1896, March quarter, South Stoneham Registration District
Baptism:  
Marriage:
Death:     GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921 Army (Other Ranks) page 3013
                 CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/601982/REEVES,%20H

1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1065, Folio 25 face, Page 5
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 06040, Reg.Dist. 100 (South Stoneham) Sub Dist. 1 (St Mary Extra), Enum.Dist.18, Schedule 009

⁷     Bitterne Local History Society - List of The Fallen http://www.bitterne.net/resources/fallen.html