Reeves, Reginald William

Summary

Father: Thomas William REEVES
Mother: ELLEN MOORE

Birth: 1892
Birth Source: FreeBMD and census

Death: 1918
Death Source: CWGC and FreeBMD

Spouse1:

Narrative

Reginald William is the elder of the two children of Thomas William REEVES and his wife Ellen (nee MOORE). His birth was registered in the East Preston Registration District of Sussex during the third quarter of 1892.

On both the 1901 and 1911 census returns, Reginald appears in his parent's home on Montague Street, Worthing, Sussex. His age is 8, then 18 and his place of birth is consistently given as Worthing, Sussex. On the 1911 census, his occupation is given as Apprentice Ironmonger, so it is probable he was working with/for his father.

It is believed that Reginald's death is that recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website as simply R W Reeves. As Private 266530 he was serving with the 6th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment when he died in early November 1918. The CWGC Grave Registration Documents note he died of pneumonia and that he is buried in Worthing Cemetery.

Reginald's death does not seem to appear in the "Index to War Deaths 1914-1921 Army (Other Ranks)" but is included in the regular (civilian) GRO Index to Deaths. FreeBMD notes the death during the fourth quarter of 1918 of Reginald W REEVES in the East Preston Registration District, aged 26. The entry for Reginald William Reeves in Soldiers Died in the Great War notes he enlisted in Brighton and that his place of death was "Home". Whilst all sources concur he served in the Royal Sussex Regiment, Soldiers Died alone gives his Service Number as TF/260530.

The "UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929" entry for Private 266530 Reginald William Reeves shows him serving with the Royal Sussex Regiment and that he "died after transfer to class W." His date of death is noted as 16 May 1917, which is at odds with other sources. (Or was this the date of his transfer to Class W?) His father Thomas is the only named beneficiary, strongly suggesting Reginald was not married at the time of his death.

Research Notes

(1)

Sources

Birth:        FreeBMD   1892, September quarter, East Preston Registration District
Baptism:  
Marriage:
Death:      FreeBMD   1918, December quarter, East Preston Registration District
                 CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/402851/REEVES, R W

1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0959, Folio 85 face, Page 17
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 05335, Reg.Dist. 084 (East Preston), Sub Dist. 1 (Worthing), Enum.Dist. 16, Schedule 138