Reeves, Sidney George A

Summary

Father: John REEVES
Mother: Mary Jane MAY

Birth: 1879
Birth Source: FreeBMD & Census

Death: 1921, Basra, Iraq
Death Source: CWGC

Spouse1:

Narrative

Sidney George A Reeves is the second of three known children of John Reeves and his wife Mary Jane (nee MAY). FreeBMD notes that Sidney's birth was recorded in the Newbury Registration District in the final quarter of 1879.

At the time of the 1881 census, Sidney was living with his mother Mary J Reeves and his elder brother Oliver in the hamlet of Speenhamland near Newbury, Berkshire. Mary is first listed in the household but rather than being described as "head" she recorded as "Wife". Sidney is one year old and his place of birth is given as Newbury.

On the 1891 census, Sidney appears in the household of George & Ann ALLUM in Hassells Buildings on Oxford Street in Newbury. He is now 11 years old and a Scholar. His relationship to George ALLUM is given as nephew (but see Research Note 1 below). Sidney's parents and elder brother Oliver are to be found in nearby Thatcham, Berkshire

By the time of the 1901 census, Sidney is again included in the household of George and Ann ALLUM. He is now 21 years old and employed as a Printer and Compositor. His place of birth is shown as Newbury Berkshire and again his relationship to George Allum is shown as nephew. Also present in the Allum household and listed after Sidney are his mother Mary (age 42) and younger sister Brenda, age 4 who was born in Emsworth Hampshire. Both Mary and Brenda have a relationship of niece.

It seems Sidney was nearly entered twice on 1911 census schedules. His parents John & Mary plus younger sister Brenda were living on Batts Road, Emsworth, Hampshire. John notes he and Mary have been married 34 years and that Mary has had four children, two of whom are still living and two who have died. He then entered details for both Sidney and Brenda, his two surviving children. Subsequently the line for Sidney has been struck through, presumably because he was not there on the census night, but it remains easily legible. John records that Sidney Reeves is his son, is 30 years old and is single. Sidney is working as a Steward and he was born in Newbury, Berkshire.

Sidney is also recorded on the 1911 census as a boarder in the household of William & Ann GRAY on Station Street, Landport, Portsmouth. In addition to William and Ann and their three children there are TWO boarders. The first listed is Lilian Reeves who is 30 years old and has been married for two years with no children born to the marriage. She was born in Bootle, Lancashire. The second boarder is Sidney Reeves, also aged 30 and married. He is employed as a Steward in the Royal Navy and was born in Newbury Berkshire.

Sidney's death is recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website.  As Officer's Steward 1st Class 360506 he was serving on HMS Crocus and died in August 1921. He is buried in the Basra War Cemetery, Basra, Iraq. The CWGC additionally notes "Son of Mary Reeves, of Cambridge House, 10, High St., Emsworth Hants, and the late John Reeves." See also Research Note 3.  

Research Notes

(1) George and Ann ALLUM are significant influences in Sidney's early life. At the time of the 1881 census they are enumerated immediately prior to Mary J Reeves but against a separate schedule number. On the 1891 & 1901 census Sidney is listed as George's nephew. Moreover on the 1901 census Mary, Sidney's mother and his sister Brenda are both noted as George's niece although they are from different generations. Based on this inconsistency and the age difference between George & Sidney, it is more probable Sidney is George's great nephew.

(2) On the 1911 census, against Sidney's name after the word "Married" a duration of 2 years has been crossed out, since that information was only meant to be completed for married women. However it leaves little doubt that Lilian & Sidney regarded themselves as a couple. As yet, no corresponding marriage registration entry in England & Wales has been identified for Sidney & Lilian. Note Sidney's father John suggested he was single, but it is possible John & Sidney were not close; John was not present in the same household as Sidney on any of the three preceding census nights.

(3) HMS Crocus was an Arabis class mine-sweeping sloop launched in 1915. The Log Books from HMS Crocus for 1921 are online at http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-18-HMS_Crocus.htm.   She was recommissioned after a time in Gibraltar Dry Dock on 29 January 1921 ^C03, at which time her establishment was 7 Officers, 41 seaman, 45 Engine Room, 10 other non-executive ratings and 23 native ratings, a total of 126 personnel ^C02. Crocus arrived in Aden on 12 March 1921 via the Suez Canal before commencing a period patrolling the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf. On 19 July Crocus arrived at Barsa and the following day 13 ratings were discharged to hospital (which was about 10% of her total establishment).

At 19h00 on 21 July the log notes "Discharged 1 Off(icer) St(ewar)d 1st Cl(ass) to Hospital", which may have been Sidney.^C05     On 1 August the log book notes "11.40 S.G.A. Reeves Off Std 1st CLass died in No 3 British General Hospital Basra"^C06 and on the following day three entries "5.0 Funeral Party Landed." "6.0 to 6.30 Half Masted Colours." and finally "7.0 Funeral Party Returned."^C07

Sources

Birth:        FreeBMD 1879, December quarter, Newbury Registration District
Baptism:  
Marriage:
Death:      CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/631377/REEVES,%20S%20G%20A
                 
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1271, Folio 51 face, Page 45
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0970, Folio 41 reverse, Page 36
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1121, Folio 117 face, Page 33
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 5582, Reg.Dist. 90 (Portsmouth), Sub Dist. 3 (Portsea & Landport), Enum.Dist 22, Schedule 101

1891 Census: parents - RG12, Piece 0968, Folio 92 reverse, Page 8
1911 Census: parents - RG14, Piece 5471, Reg.Dist 97 (Havant), Sub Dist. 1 (Havant), Enum.Dist. 8, Schedule 195

Log Book of HMS Crocus from http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-18-HMS_Crocus.htm
^C01     HMS Crocus Log Book - Title page
^C02     HMS Crocus Log Book - Description of Ship
^C03     HMS Crocus Log Book - 29 January 1921
^C04     HMS Crocus Log Book - 19 July 1921
^C05     HMS Crocus Log Book - 21 July 1921
^C06     HMS Crocus Log Book - 1 August 1921
^C07     HMS Crocus Log Book - 2 August 1921