Reeves, John

Summary

Father:
Mother:

Birth:
Birth Source: estimate

Death: 1916, France
Death Source: CWGC

Spouse1:

Narrative

Nothing is presently known about John's early life, but much can be inferred. See Research Notes below. What is known with certainty comes from sources relating to his service and death during World War 1.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that whilst serving as Private 6085 in the 1st Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, J Reeves died in northern France in November 1916. He is buried in the Grove Town Cemetery, Méaulte just south of Albert in the Somme département of France (FR-80). The CWGC has no additional notes for this individual.

The death of Private PW/6085 of the Middlesex Regiment in 1916 is included in the GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921. Army (other Ranks) page 3013 as John Reeves; year 1916, vol I.69, page 206.

The "UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929" entry for Private 6085 John Reeves shows him serving with the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. It comprises two distribution entries. Both are made to his brother and sole legatee William Reeves; the first is in May 1917 and the second in October 1919.

Research Notes

(1) The reference in "Solders Died in the Great War" to John's place of birth being Heybridge, Essex is probably incorrect. Heybridge is in the south of the county and lies within the Maldon Registration District. There is no candidate birth registration for a John Reeve(s) in that district between 1870 and 1900.

It is far more likely to be Abridge, a village in the Parish of Lambourne and Abridge in the south west of Essex. The town of Epping, where John enlisted, is close by.

Additionally the Imperial War Museum notes that the War Memorial in Lambourne Parish Church includes a John Reeves, but provide no further details.

(2) Whilst there is nothing in John's surviving military papers nor at the CWGC site to identify his parents, it is possible he is the son of Richard REEVES and Sarah (nee Reeve (sic)). Richard and Sarah lived in the parish of Lambourne and Abridge and in addition to a son John, they also had a son William.

(3) However, it should be noted that Private 19439 John Reeves of the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, was born in Abridge (per Soldiers Died in the Great War). This latter individual has yet to be researched. He may be the individual commemorated at Lambourne Church, although it is more likely he is commemorated at Theydon Bois, where he lived. http://www.iwm.org.uk_www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/name/812361

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:  
Marriage:
Death:      GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921. Army (Other Ranks) page 3013 as John Reeves
                 CWGC     http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/31634/REEVES, J

1881 Census:
1891 Census:
1901 Census:
1911 Census:

IWM http://www.iwm.org.uk_www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/name/116109 Retrieved Dec 2016

From Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 at FindMyPast

First name(s) 		JOHN
Last name 		REEVES
Service number 		P.W.6085
Rank 			PRIVATE
Regiment 		Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
Battalion 		1st Battalion.
Birth place 		HEYBRIDGE, ESSEX
Residence 		-
Enlistment place 	EPPING, ESSEX
Death year 		1916
Death day 		1
Death month 		11
Cause of death 		Died of wounds
Death place 		France & Flanders
Theatre of war 		Western European Theatre
Supplementary Notes 	FORMERLY G/1015561, EAST SURREY REGT.