Pte 24616 George Alfred Reeves

George Alfred Reeves was born in Manchester on 11th June 1895, the eldest son of Thomas Baldwin Reeves and Dora (née Burgess).  He was baptised in Albert Memorial Church, Colleyhurst, on 3rd July, his parents’ residence 72 Rudyard Street, Manchester, and father’s occupation tram driver.  Thomas, born in Bath, Somerset, and Dora, from Livepool, married in 1895 in Manchester, and had six children, of which George was the eldest.  His siblings were Minnie, and Dora, born in Manchester, and Thomas, (Edith) Lilian, and Rose, born in Liverpool.  The family moved from Manchester to Liverpool in about 1900.

 

In 1901 they are living at 50 Grange Street, Anfield. His father 37, is a corporation Tramways inspector, mother 27, George is 5, Minnie 3, and Dora 1.

 

By 1911 they have moved to 11 Town Row, West Derby, with six children. His father is 48, a municipal Tramway inspector, his mother is 37, George is 15, Minnie 13, Dora 11, Thomas, 9, all at school, Lilian is 5, and  Rose 2.

 

Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, George enlisted in Liverpool in about April 1915.

 

He disembarked in France on 7th November 1915. The 18th battalion saw action at the Somme in 1916.  It is not known when he was evacuated to the U.K.

 

George Alfred died on 05/01/1917 aged 21 and is buried in the family plot at West Derby Cemetery in Liverpool. His parents and his sister Dora Louisa are buried in the same plot. 

 

The pension card shows that he died of meningitis at the War Hospital, Bradford.  (The FindaGrave site states that he died of tuberculosis and pneumonia.)

 

George’s body was returned to Liverpool and he was laid to rest on 10th January 1917 in West Derby Cemetery. The burial record shows his address as 11 Town Row, his age as 21, and his occupation shoe maker (which suggests he had been discharged from the Army).

 

There are 111 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war and 129 of the 1939-1945 war here. Those whose graves are not marked by headstones are named on 2 denominational Screen Wall memorials. The graves are scattered throughout the cemetery in denominational plots. There are also 2 Foreign National war burials.

 

On the first anniversary of his death, 05th January 1918, his family placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo:

 

And on his birthday, 11th June 1918, in the Liverpool Echo:

 

His parents received his Army effects of £12-3s, and a War Gratuity of £9. The pension card in the name of his mother, at 11 Town Row, West Derby, Liverpool, does not show an amount.

 

In 1939 his parents were living at 141 Lincombe Road, Huyton with Roby, where they remained until their death.

It is interesting to note the longevity of the other family members. His father died on 19/12/1950 aged 84, his mother died on 11/10/1965 aged 91 and his sister died on 04/11/1986 aged 87.

 

George is commemorated on 

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 45

St. Mary the Virgin Church, West Derby.