The Reeve Brothers
Charles Reeve
Charles
Reeve was born in 1892.
In 1901 the family were living in Straits Lane, just of
the A120:
James Reeve - 52 - Ag. Lab.
Charlotte Reeve - 53
Samuel - 21 - Horseman on Farm
William - 19 - Ag. Lab.
George - 13 - Farm boy
Frederick - 11
Charles - 8
In 1911 the family had moved to Richards Farm, Felstead, and Charles was
the only son left at home:
James Reeve - age 62 - Farm Labourer, born High Roding.
Charlotte Reeve - age 63 - born North End.
Charles - age 18 - Farm Labourer, born Felstead.
Charles emigrated to Australia, and returned to England at the outbreak of war to enlist in the army.
Charles Reeve served as a Private soldier 13677 with the 2nd Battalion the Essex Regiment.
The 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment were part of the 4th Infantry Division. The 4th Division had been rested at the rear of the lines near Ypres when in October 1916 it was returned to the Somme Battlefield to take part in what was called the Battle of Le Transloy Ridge. On 23rd October the British continued its advanced towards Le Transloy and captured a thousand yards of the German trench system.
Charles died aged 24 on 23rd October 1916. He
has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
(The photograph of the memorial inscription was provided
courtesy www.britishwargraves.co.uk)
The Essex Weekly News included the following item in its Honour Roll:
Official Notice has been received by Mr. and Mrs J. Reeve, Weavers Farm, Felsted, that their son, Pte. Charles
Reeve, Essex Regt., aged 24, who was reported missing on Oct 23, 1916,
is now presumed to be dead. He enlisted at the outbreak of war, after
being in Australia 2½ years, and was
invalided home on one occasion with influenza, being treated at
Chelmsford. This is the second son Mr. and Mrs. Reeve have lost, the
other being Sergt.-Major Fred Reeve, Northants Regt.
Frederick Reeve was born in the first quarter of 1890.
Frederick enlisted in the army in Braintree.
In 1911 the census records Frederick as being 23, single, and serving as a Corporal, service number 7846, with the 2nd Battalion, the Northamptonshire Regiment, who were based at Floriana Barracks, Malta.
In August 1914 the 2nd Battalion, the Northamptonshire Regiment were in Alexandria, Egypt. They returned to England and landed October 1914.
They were then stationed at Hursley Park near Winchester and attached to 24th Brigade in the 8th Division.
The 8th Division landed at Le Harve, France on 6th November 1914, when Frederick is listed as Sergeant.
In the December quarter of 1915 Frederick married Jessie H. Baker in the Northampton registration district.
Frederick rose to the rank of Company Sergeant Major, with "D" Company in the 2nd Battalion, the Northamptonshire Regiment.
The battalion were involved in the opening phase of the Battle of the Somme, known as the Battle of Albert which took place between 1st July and 13th July 1916.
It is likely that Frederick was wounded during this battle and evacuated from the front line to a Military hospital in Etaples which is on the French Coast, and died later of his wounds.
He died aged 26 on 24th July 1916. He is buried at the Etaples Military Cemetery.
His widow Jessie lived at 47 Green Street, Northampton.
Interestingly Frederick is not recorded on the memorial in the centre of the village nor in the Parish Church. He is however remembered on the memorial at the United Reformed Church, and is mentioned on the Felsted Roll of Honour.
Perhaps it was felt
that he should be remembered where his
widow was living.
After the war James and Charlotte Ann Reeve lived at Richard's Farm, Felsted (The house closest to the railway bridge, at Watch House Green, also called Weaver's Farm).