Reeves, Herbert

Summary

Father: Abraham REEVES
Mother: Thirza JEFFERY

Birth: 1891 at Uckfield, Sussex
Birth Source: FreeBMD and Census

Death: 1916, Belgium
Death Source: CWGC.org

Spouse1:

Narrative

Herbert Reeves is the second known child of Abraham REEVES and his second wife Thirza (nee JEFFERY). His birth was registered during the third quarter of 1891 within the Uckfield Registration District.

At the time of the 1901 census Herbert appears in his parent's household at Trafalgar Road in Portslade by Sea, Sussex. He is nine years old and his place of birth is shown as Uckfield, Sussex. His four younger siblings complete the household.

On the 1911 census Herbert again appears in his parents home, still on Trafalgar Road in Portslade by Sea, but with a different house number. (Did they move or was the street simply renumbered?) His father records that Herbert is 19 years old, that he is single and was born in Uckfield, Sussex. He is employed by The Board of Trade as a Bankruptcy Clerk.

His regimental number of G/3330 indicates Herbert enlisted for service with the Royal Sussex Regiment during wartime only in late August or September 1914. See Research Note 1 below. His Medal Card show he was serving in France from late August 1915 with The Royal Sussex Regiment.

It is believed that Herbert's death is that recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website as simply H Reeves.  He was serving as Serjeant G/3330 in the 9th Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment and died in February 1916. He is buried in the Menin Road South Military Cemetery, just east of Ieper in the West-Vlaanderen province of Belgium (BE-VWV).   The CWGC website additionally notes "Son of Abraham and Thirza Reeves, of 262, Kennington Rd., London. Native of Portslade, Sussex."

The death of Sergeant G/3330 of the Sussex Regiment is included in the GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921. Army (other Ranks) page 3013 as Herbert Reeves, year 1916, vol I.73, page 137.

The "UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929" entry for Sergeant 3330 Herbert Reeves shows him serving with the 9th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. It notes two payments to his Father Abraham in May 1917 and again in August 1919.

Research Notes

(1) The likely date of Herbert's enlistment in the Royal Sussex Regiment is based on information found at http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/royal-sussex-regiment-service.html. It shows that soldier G/3827 joined on 26 September 1914.

Sources

Birth:        FreeBMD 1891, September quarter, Uckfield 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/96853/REEVES, H

1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0943, Folio 31 reverse, Page 10
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 05205, Reg.Dist. (Steyning), Sub Dist. 3 (Shoreham), Enum.Dist. 3, Schedule 217