Reeves, Henry Reuben

Summary

Father: John Reuben REEVES
Mother: Ann/Anne ALLEN

Birth: 1878
Birth Source: Census and FreeBMD

Death: 1917
Death Source: CWGC

Spouse1:

Narrative

Henry Reuben REEVES is the younger of two known children of John Reuben Reeves and his wife Ann/Anne ALLAN. His birth was registered in the Portsea Registration District in the fourth quarter of 1878, some five years after his elder brother Ernest John Reeves.

At the time of the 1881 census, Henry appears in his parents household as a two year old living at 3 St Vincent Street, Portsea. His place of birth is given as Portsmouth.

On the 1891 census, Henry is again found in his parent's home which was still at 3 St Vincent Street, Portsea. He is 12 years old and a scholar.

It is likely Henry's mother Ann died in 1892 and his father re-married in 1893.

By the time of the 1901 census, Henry is living with his father and step-mother at 73 Cornwall Road, Kingston, Portsmouth. He is 22 years old and is working as an Cycle Enameller.

On the 1911 census, Henry is still living with his father John and his step mother Emma at 73 Cornwall Road, Kingston, Portsmouth, Hampshire. Henry is 32 years old and single. He was born in Portsmouth and remains employed as a Cycle Enameller.

It is not know when Henry enlisted into the Army. From his medal entitlement card, it seems Henry initially joined the Dorset Regiment (as Private 203187) and was subsequently transfer to the Devonshire Regiment (as Private 205046).

Henry's death is recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website.   As Private 205046 he was serving with the 2nd Battalion of The Devonshire Regiment when he died on 25 November 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgian Flanders (now West-Vlaanderen). It additionally notes "Son of the late John Reeves and Ann Reeves".

Henry's sacrifice is recorded on the Portsmouth Cenotaph as "Reeves H.R." within the Army panels, along with four other individuals who share the surname Reeves; "Reeves C.N." (army), "Reeves F." (navy), "Reeves H." (navy), and "Reeves R." (navy). ^7, 8, 9.

Research Notes

It is likely Henry's elder brother Ernest John died in 1909 and there is no obvious record of him marrying. With Henry's death in 1917, it is probable this branch of the Reeves family was extinguished.

Sources

Birth:       FreeBMD 1878, 4q, Portsea Registration District
Baptism:  
Marriage:
Death:     RG35/53 Part 1 page 3013 - GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921, Army (Other Ranks)
                  CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/830426/REEVES,%20HENRY%20REUBEN

1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1157 Folio 26 face, Page 1
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0870, Folio 46 face, Page 7
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0985, Folio 105 reverse, Page 26
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 5525, Reg.Dist. 90 Sub Dist. 2, Enum.Dist 4, Schedule 6


⁷   Portsmouth Cenotaph - http://www.memorials.inportsmouth.co.uk/city-centre/cenotaph.htm
⁸   Portsmouth Cenotaph - Army Names - Panel 9 - Mitchell H. to Shepherd H.
⁹   Portsmouth Cenotaph - Navy Names - Panel 4 - Parsons E. to Waight F.