Reeves, Herbert Frank

Summary

Father: Walter REEVES
Mother: Alice CRAY

Birth: c1897, Dublin Ireland
Birth Source: Census Returns

Death: August 1918
Death Source: CWGC

Spouse1:

Narrative

Herbert Frank REEVES is the third of seven known children of Walter Reeves and his wife Alice (nee CRAY). (See Research Note 1 below.) Whilst his eldest sister and four younger siblings were all born in Somerset, (his parent's home county,) Herbert and his elder brother Harry, were, according to census returns, both born in Dublin, Ireland.

At the time of the 1901 census, Herbert is to be found in his parent's home on Nunnery Road, Frome, Somerset. He is 4 years old and was born in Dublin.

A decade later on the 1911 census, Herbert is one of six children living with his parents on Castle Street, Frome, Somerset. He is now 14 years old and his occupation is given as "School - News Boy".

It is not known when Herbert joined up, but his entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War, suggest he initially served with the Devonshire Regiment with service number 58950, subsequently transferring to the Dorsetshire Regiment.

It is believed that Hebert's death is that recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website as simply H F Reeves.  He was serving as Private 31311 in the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment and died in August 1918. He is buried in the Damery Communal Cemetery, in the Somme département of France. (See Research Note 2 below.)   The CWGC has no additional information for this individual.

The death of Private 313111 of the Dorset Regiment in 1918 is included in the "GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921. Army (other Ranks)" on page 3013 as Reeves, Herbert F.   year 1918, vol I.61, page 193

There is also a record for Private 31311 Herbert Frank Reeves of the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment in "Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1918". This gives his place of birth as Dublin and his place of residence as Street, Somerset.

The "UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929" entry for Private 31311 Herbert Frank Reeves shows him serving with 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment. It shows his only beneficiary as his mother Alice, which is indicative of him being unmarried at the time of his death.

Research Notes

(1) On the 1911 census return, it is noted that Herbert's mother has had eight children, only seven of whom were still alive at the time of that census.

(2) The Damery Communal Cemetery has only 11 WW1 graves. For additional information see http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/68204/DAMERY%20COMMUNAL%20CEMETERY and http://www.inmemories.com/Cemeteries/damery.htm which inludes a picture of Herbert's grave.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:  
Marriage:
Death:      GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921. Army (other Ranks) page 3013
                 CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/616805/REEVES, H F

1901 Census: RG13, Piece 2308, Folio 174 reverse, Page 44
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 14462, Reg.Dist. 311 (Frome), Sub Dist 2 (Frome), Enum.Dist. 4, Sch 21