No.24760, Private, Frank Alfred REEVE
Aged 26
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Frank Alfred Reeve was born in Knettishall, Norfolk in 1890 (Thetford Q3-1890 4B:350), son of Robert and Cecilia Rebecca REEVE (née TURNER).
1891 census...Aged 10 months he was at Ingham with his father Robert REEVE [44] a shepherd born Troston; his mother Cecilia R [44]; brother Robert [18] farm labourer and his twin sister Frances [18] born in Troston, brothers Charles [16] shepherd's page, Edward [14] farm labourer and Albert [10] all three born in Troston, George J [4] born in Knettishall; sisters Cecilia H [8] born Troston, Marie J [7] and Beatrice E [6] both born in Knettishall. 1901 census...Aged 10, he was at the Post Office/Grocer's Shop in Troston (now Glebe Cottage) with his father now grocer, his mother Rebecca [53] post mistress; brothers Edward (farm labourer) born Troston and George John; sisters Frances and Cecilia Hannah [18]. 1911 census...Aged 20, a rural auxiliary postman, he was still at the Post Office, Troston, with his parents and brother Edward (forester) and sister Cecilia. Two of the twelve siblings had died. The post office/shop was at Chapel House, now (2014) "Glebe Cottage" |
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He enlisted in Ixworth. In the August of 1916 the Pozières area witnessed the severest fighting as British and Australian troops pushed doggedly towards Thiepval along the route of the old German Second Line. A series of parallel trench lines was pushed out from Pozières towards Thiepval and by the 8th August 7th Suffolks and other troops of 12th (Eastern) Division occupied the fifth line of trenches – Fifth Avenue or Ration Trench. Here they were subjected to repeated and fierce German flammenwerfer (flamethrowers)and bomb attacks, the War Diary report-ing..... "2am - Hostile fire becomes very intense and enemy assaulted Ration Trench unsuccessfully. 5am - Attack renewed and about 70 yards of Ration Trench captured by the enemy". Later that evening and on into the early hours of the next morning the trench was retaken, the Regimental History recording ..... "Capt Isham's company attacked with great dash and gained an additional two hundred yards." The Suffolks lost 52 men killed on 9th August 1916, of which only 8 have known graves, the rest are named on the Thiepval Memorial
photo: Roy Beardsworth click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
