REEVE, Jack


No.17824, Private, Jack REEVE
Aged 26


"B" Coy., 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Tuesday, 24th April 1915


Jack Reeve was born in Bardwell (Thingoe Q3-1890 4A:1890), son of George REEVE (CWGC have "son of the late Mr & Mrs George Reeve" and "Soldiers Died" have him born in Ixworth).

His exact parentage is unknown as there is more than one possible George Reeve, which makes it impossible to be 100% sure of the rest of his civilian history until he married Ada Elizabeth BANHAM in 1910
The George REEVE married to Caroline LEVICK died in 1883, therefore although he may be the son of Caroline, Jack is not the son of that George, but could be the son of George and Caroline's 1st born, George, born in 1872. That junior George could be the one who married Louisa LEAPER in 1899 and lived in London in 1911. Caroline's age varies wildly after 1881


1891 census...If this is the right family unit, aged 9 months, he was at Bailey's Cottages, Ixworth with his widowed mother Caroline [38], sister Hatty [12]; brothers Alfred [9] and William [8] and a lodger William PAYNE [24] a farm labourer. All were born in Bardwell.

1901 census...Believed to be John Reeve [11] born Ixworth, a pauper in workhouse at Westgate, Bury St.Edmunds with widow Caroline REEVE [57]

He married Ada Elizabeth BANHAM in 1910

1911 census...Aged 22, he was at Quakers Lane, Bardwell with his wife Ada [19] born Ixworth and their son Albert [5 months) born Bardwell. Caroline was with her daughter Kate and son in law Hector RUFFLES and their 8 children, also in Quakers Lane, Bardwell.


He enlisted in Ixworth, less than 1 year before his death.
The war diary from 9th April to 9th May 1915 appears to have gone missing, so we must use Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment":-

April 22nd was the first real use of gas by the Germans. On the night of 23rd/24th the battalion went back into reserve between Frenzenberg and Verlorenhoek, no billets, they had to bivouac under hedges.
On the morning of 24th they were put to work digging in on the ridge astride the Ypres-Zonnebeke road. An officer appeared from Division to say the 1st Suffolks and 12th Londons were to advance northward, adding the Germans had broken through and only these two battalions stood between the Germans and Ypres. Captain Balders sought advice from Brigade and was given authority to advance and try top establish a base in the ruins of FORTUIN.
As soon as they set out the enemy barrage increased. On the way to FORTUIN, they came across a hard pressed Canadian unit and the decision was made to assist them. Being made aware that the Germans were already in St Julien. "A" and "B" Companies reinforced the Canadian left flank, whilst the rest took up a position covering FORTUIN, the 12 London being on the right. After digging all night the Suffolks, who were out in the open, managed to construct a fire trench over 4 feet deep with traverses.

CWGC put the deaths in the 1st Suffolks on 24th at 50, only 6 have known graves.



photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Jack Reeve is commemorated on the Menin Gate, panel 21

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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