William Reeve

William was born in Eastwood, Notts., the ninth of Jesse and Sarah's thirteen children. In 1901 and 1911 he was a coal miner at Moorgreen Colliery, still living with his parents at 13 Queen St., Eastwood. He enlisted as a private in the 1st Regiment South Staffordshire Regiment in 1914 and was taken prisoner in 1916. The following article appeared in the Eastwood & Kimberley Advertiser on 13 October 1916.

Missing Eastwood Soldier Writes Home. Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Reeve, of Queen-street, Eastwood, who have been passing through a period of great suspense as to the fate of their son Pte. William Reeve of the 1st Staffs., had a very pleasant surprise on Tuesday of this week, when they received a postcard from the missing soldier. Pte. Reeve is a prisoner of war, but according to his communication is alright. He had been missing from his regiment since early in August, and after nearly two months of anxiety the parents are naturally much elated by the good news. Before joining the forces in the early days of the war Reeve worked at the Moorgreen Colliery.

(Thank you to Wendy Black for providing this picture.)

In 1939 William was an invalid. living with his sister Harriet and her son at 13 Queen Street , Eastwood.