Corporal George Edward Reeves

George was born on 9 May 1881 in Fareham, Hampshire while his mother Ellen was a visitor at her parents' house in Fareham, where she was born. He was baptised the following month at St. Lawrence Church, Morden while George's parents, George Snr. and Ellen were recorded as living in Morden. In fact when the couple married at the same church a year earlier, the address given was Morden Common. It is possible that they were gypsies or travellers, as George and his witness, William Reeves (probably his brother) both marked the documents with an X instead of a signature, so presumably were unable to read or write. George Snr. was born near Fareham in Swanwick, Hampshire, which was noted for it's strawberry beds and attracted seasonal agricultural workers during the short harvesting season.

By 1891, the family had settled down in a house at 83 Albert Road, Epsom, where the family lived until at least 1911. George Snr. was employed as a Carman, while Ellen was a Laundress. Nine year old George was joined by his three year old sister Gertrude.

The 1901 Census shows that Ellen was now a widow, and that the family had grown to include four year old Reginald (who was possibly also known as William). George had left home by now, and was boarding at the home of John Wye, at 2 College Road, Epsom while he was employed as a General Labourer.

Ten years later, George was employed as a Carman, and was a boarder at the home of a fellow Carman, Edward Deacon at 97 Richmond Park Road, Kingston upon Thames. Edward had a son and six daughters, including Elizabeth, a Cook. Soon after on 16 April 1911, George and Elizabeth were married at St. Luke Church, Kingston. On 14th January 1912, the couple had a daughter who they named Gertrude Elizabeth, and a couple of years later, about 1914, another daughter Winifred was born.

In August 1914, George enlisted at Guildford, initially with the 1st South Wales Borderers (Service No. 40182), and then at some point with the 3rd Dragoon Guards (Prince of Wales Own) where he eventually achieved the rank of Corporal. This was a cavalry regiment, where his previous employment as a Carman working with horses may have been useful. The 3rd Dragoons were part of the 6th Cavalry Brigade in the 3rd Cavalry Division for service on the Western Front. They fought at the First Battle of Ypres in October 1914, the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915 and the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917.

On 24 March 1918, there was a cavalry charge against a force of German infantry occupying a pair of copses near the village of Villeselve. The position was carried, although at the cost of seventy five lives. Unfortunately, one of those men killed in this action was George. The following is an excerpt from a book, The History of the 6th Cavalry Brigade by Lieutenant J.B Bickersteth.

"...One of the most brilliant purely cavalry exploits of the war stands to the credit of this Brigade. On 24 March 1918, a composite squadron consisting of one troop each from the 3rd Dragoon Guards, The Royal Dragoons, and the 10th Royal Hussars was ordered to attack a large body of infantry who, supported by machine guns were holding a position in the open near the village of Villeselve, a few miles south of Ham. The primary object of the attack was to restore confidence to our infantry, who for three days had been retiring before overwhelming forces of the enemy. A secondary object was the extrication of the remnants of two battalions who were almost surrounded at Cugny. The charge was made over six hundred yards of open ground in the face of determined machine gun fire and rifle fire, both from the front and from the flank. The last two hundred yards were over plough. The enemy far from being demoralised had been taking part in a victorious advance for several days. In spite of these facts the charge met with complete success. As soon as the Germans saw the British cavalry advancing with drawn swords and heard the men cheering, their resistance wavered. Nearly a hundred Germans were sabered, one hundred and seven were taken prisoners, and three machine guns were either captured or destroyed. Our infantry followed up the cavalry immediately and re-occupied the ground which had been lost...."

A forward written by General Haigh, commended the brigade's action on that day.

George's widow Elizabeth received the amount of £35.19.6 which included the War Gratuity of £22.00 (around £2,000 in today's money). At that time she was recorded as living at 340 Kingston Road, Raynes Park. Their daughter Gertrude married Henry Ingold and died in 1996 aged 84. Winifred married Douglas Gardener in 1937, at the Parish Church, Merton and lived at 42 Haynt Walk, Raynes Park.

George is commemorated on the Pozieres memorial, Somme France, and locally at St Saviours Church, Raynes Park and on the Wimbledon Roll of Honour.