Name
Reginald Ralph Coleman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/04/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
30488
Leicestershire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHATBY MEMORIAL
Egypt
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Reginald was born around 1888 in Bedford and baptised there on 7 September 1888. His parents were Tom Henry and Anne Coleman.
In 1891 the family were living at 76 Foster Hill Road, Bedford. Present were both parents: Tom (29) and Anne (30), with Tom working as a builder and an employer. Their children were: Gertrude Ellen Emma (6) and Reginald Ralph (2). A servant Ada Walton (14) was also present.
In 1901 the family were living at 84 Foster Hill Road, Bedford. Present were both parents, with Tom now listed as a builder, contractor and an employer. Of their children listed above, only Reginald was present, but he had new siblings: Violet A (9), Tom B (8), Harold H (5) and Dorothy M (2). Their servant was also present Ethel Tailby (17).
By 1911 the family had moved to 70 Old Park Road, Hitchin. The census recorded Tom and Anne as married for 27 years, with 7 children with 5 living. Reginald was absent, but he was found living at 121 High Street, Bedford. There he was recorded as one of 3 assistants to Ewart Maurice Smith, a grocer providing tobacco, wine, spirit and beer dealer and retailer.
He married Edith Emily (poss Emma) Hayes (b 17/11/1884) in 1912 and they had one child William Ronald Hayley (b 12/10/1913)
The newspaper report in the Bedford Times and Independent record that Reginald had been apprenticed to Messrs. Atkins and Smith grocers in Bedford, but that he left several years before the war to open a new grocers in Bearton Road, Hitchin, where his father had moved and set up his building business.
Officially recorded as born in Bedford and enlisting in Leicester.
Wartime Service
When he joined the army, he was given the Regimental Number 30488 and was in the 2nd Battalion of the Leicestershires and was drowned whilst on a troop transport which was torpedoed just past the Straits of Messina. This was the ‘Cameronia’ which was taking 2,620 officers and men from Marseilles to Egypt and due to go on to Mesopotamia. A survivor said that Reg was probably in the Guard Room where the Leicesters were on duty at the time. He was believed drowned
His death was reported in the Bedford Times and Independent on 29 June 1917.
He has no known grave, but the sea and is remembered on the Chatby Memorial to the Missing, Alexandria, in Egypt.
Additional Information
Reginald has two brothers serving in France.
After his death £3 was authorised to go to his widow on 20 November 1919.
His pension cards record Edith Emily as his widow as his next of dependant, living at Tillbrook, near Kimbolton, Hunts. She was awarded a pension of 18s 9d a week, including 5s child allowance, from 7 January 1918. She was also awarded a grant of £5 which was awarded 19 June 1918. It appears that she mover to 1 Cromer Road, Leicester.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
