Reeves, William Frank

Summary

Father: Alfred REEVES
Mother: Kate FOREMAN

Birth: c 1884
Birth Source: Census & FreeBMD

Death: November 1917, France
Death Source: CWGC

Spouse1: Lily MEDHURST

Narrative

William Frank Reeves was the younger of two sons born to Alfred REEVES and his wife Kate (nee FOREMAN). William's birth was registered in the first quarter of 1884 in the Hollingbourne Registration District of Kent.   He was baptised at the Parish Church of St Nicholas, Leeds, Kent in August 1884.

On the 1891 census, William appears in his parent home on Pear Tree Row in Langley, Kent. He is shown as 7 years old and born in Langley. In addition to his parents, his elder brother Thomas, who is 8 years old and born Chart Sutton, Kent, completes the household.

By the time of the 1901 census, William is again found living with his parents now at Back Lane, Langley. William is 17 years old, again claims birth in Langley and is described as a Farm Servant which has been interpreted as an Agricultural Labourer during the subsequent encoding of the enumeration form.

FreeBMD records the marriage of William Frank Reeves to Lily MEDHURST in the first quarter of 1904 in the Hollingbourne Registration District. FamilySearch indicates their marriage took place in February 1904 at the Parish Church of St Mary, Langley.

Known Child of William Frank Reeves and Lily (nee MEDHURST) is

1. William Alfred Reeves, 1905

Based on information contained in the 1911 census, there was a second child born prior to the date of the 1911 census whose identity is presently unknown. See also Research Note 1 below.

At the time of the 1911 census William and his wife Lily were living on Danes Hill in Gillingham, Kent. William is 28 years old and claims birth in Langley. He is working as a Farm Labourer. Their son William Alfred Reeves completes the household.

William's death is recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website.  As Lance Corporal G/5558 of the 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) he was killed in northern France at the time of the Battle of Cambrai. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, in the Nord département of France (FR-59). The CWGC additionally notes "Son of Alfred and Kate Reeves, of Bloor's Lane, Rainham, Kent; husband of Lily Reeves, of 11, Danes Hill, Gillingham, Kent."

Research Notes

(1) The birth of Vera R Reeves is registered in the June quarter of 1917 in the Medway Registration District. The mother's maiden name is shown as Medhurst, making it highly probable Vera was the daughter of William & Lily.

(2) Based purely on naming patterns, it is suggested that Lily Reeves, whose birth was registered during the second quarter of 1911 in Medway Registration District should also be investigated.

Sources

Birth:       FreeBMD 1884, March Quarter, Hollingbourne Registration District
Baptism:   FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QJDL-4J8D
Marriage: FreeBMD 1904, March quarter, Hollingbourne Registration District
                 FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NX2Y-RV4
Death:      GRO Index to War Deaths 1914-1921 Army (Other Ranks) page 3013
                  CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1756207/REEVES,%20WILLIAM%20FRANK
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0693, Folio 92 face, Page 5
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0773, Folio 16 face, Page 1
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 03932, Reg.Dist. 47 (Medway), Sub Dist. 2 (Gillingham), Enum.Dist. 3, Schedule 263