Name
Sidney Charles Reeves
1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/10/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
TF/238045
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 113 to 115.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead, Marlowes Baptist Church, Marlowes
Pre War
Sidney Charles Reeves was born in 1886 in Hemel Hempstead, the son of William and Mary Reeves and one of five children.
His father was a 'Master Baker' and had shops at 41 Herbert Street, Hemel Hempstead and 1 Apsley End. On the 1891 Census, the family were living at 41 Herbert Street, Hemel Hempstead, (over the shop) where his father was working as the baker. They remained at the same address in 1901 and Sidney and his brother Percy were both working as Bakers (bread), having learned the trade from their father.
On the 1911 Census he was a boarder with William and Annie Marshall at 1 Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead, and working as a baker. (N.B. William Marshall was also a baker). He gave this address on enlistment.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hemel Hempstead, on 15 December 1915, initially into the 4th battalion, Essex Regiment (reg. no. 5895), but was not called up for service until 29 January 1917 because his occupation was 'starred' as essential. He was sent to the front on 28 May 1917 with the 9th Battalion, (reg. no.201973) but was transferred again to the 12th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex) Regiment on 22 June 1917.
He arrived at Monchy-au-Bois, near Arras as one of 350 men drafted to rebuild the Battalion's fighting strength, and was assigned to No. 3 Platoon, A Company. The Battalion moved to Belgium, taking up positions to the west of Ypres ready for the next allied offensive. In August he saw his first serious action at the Battle of Langemarck.
He was killed by shellfire at Passchendaele on 17 October 1917, aged 31, but has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
Probate was granted to his father William Reeves, baker and sister Rosina Mary Reeves, spinster in London on 20 March 1918, with effects of £330 17s 9d. They received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £6 3s 3d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild. www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org., www.hemelheroes.com.
