Reeves, Robin Maurice

Summary

Father: Mark Reeves
Mother:

Birth: 8 Oct 1892, London
Birth Source: Military Records

Death: 31 May 1916, At Sea
Death Source: CWGC

Spouse1: Fanny WOOD

Narrative

Robin gave his date of birth as being in October 1892 when he enlisted in the Royal Marines in 1913. That date is consistent with his age shown on both the 1901 & 1911 census returns. However, a likely entry for his birth has yet to be identified on the GRO Register of Births in England & Wales for this individual.

At the time of the 1901 census, Robin M Reeves is living on North Street in Coldwaltham, Sussex. He is eight years old and the adopted son of Robin and Edith E. WADHAM. His place of birth is recorded simply as London.

A decade later and the 1911 census show Robins living at the Three Crowns Inn, Watersfield, Coldwaltham, Pulborough, Sussex. He is again noted as the adopted son of Robin & Edith Ellen Wadham. He is 18 years old, was born in SW London and is "Assisting in (the) Business".

In May 1913 Robin enlisted in the Royal Marine Artillery at Eastney Barracks, Portsmouth. Their record¹ shows his age on enlistment as 20 years, 7 months and that he was born in London. He claimed his trade was a "Farm Labourer". His next of kin was Edith WADHAM of Watersfield, Pulborough, Sussex. By April 1914 he had attained the rank of Gunner in the Royal Marine Artillery.

Subsequently his wife Fanny has been added as next of kin. The first line of the address for Fanny is very indistinct, perhaps Isle of Wight Cottage, Coldwaltham, Pulboro(ugh), Sussex.
FreeBMD notes the marriage of Robin M Reeves and Fanny WOOD in the second quarter of 1914 in the Thakeham Registration District of West Sussex.

Marriage from Greatham, Sussex Parish Registers:

• June 1st 1914 | Robin Maurice Reeves | 21 | Bachelor | Royal Marine Artillery | Greatham | Mark Reeves (deceased) | Milkman (to) Fanny Wood | 21 | spinster | Greatham | William Wood | Labourer

Robin was posted to HMS Invincible in August 1914 and he served on her until his death at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 when HMS Invincible was sunk by enemy action.

Robin's death is recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website.  As Gunner RMA/13456 he was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland on board HMS Invincible. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial⁴  along with two other individual (from WW1) who share the surname Reeves; Henry John Reeves and Richard Charles Reeves⁵. Robin's name appears on Panel 21 of the memorial⁶.

Robin's sacrifice is also recorded on the Coldwaltham War Memorial located in the Parish Church of St Giles, Coldwaltham, Sussex.⁷

His pension ledger card states he died 31 May 1916.

Research Notes

Sources

Birth:       UK, Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 (Ancestry)
Baptism:  
Marriage: FreeBMD - 1914, June quarter, Thakeham Registration District
                   Greatham, Sussex Parish Marriage Register 1840-1937, Par 94/1/3/1
Death:      CWGC.org
                   GRO Index to Naval War Deaths - 1914-1921 - Page 300
                   UK, World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 (Ancestry)
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0955, Folio 7 face, Page 5
1911 Census: RG14 - Piece Number 5300, Registration District 83, Sub District 1, Enumeration District 1, Schedule Number 51A

¹   ADM159 - Admiralty: Royal Marines: Registers of Service
      and specifically ADM 159/87/13456

⁴   Portsmouth Naval Memorial - http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/144703/PORTSMOUTH%20NAVAL%20MEMORIAL
                                      http://www.memorials.inportsmouth.co.uk/southsea/naval.htm
⁵   Portsmouth Naval Memorial - http://www.memorials.inportsmouth.co.uk/searching.htm
                                      - Search by surname Reeves, 10 results, 3 WW1 and 7 WW2 (as at May 2014)
⁶   Portsmouth Naval Memorial - Panel 21
⁷   Coldwaltham (St Giles) War Memorial - http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Sussex/Coldwaltham.html