The Reeves Brothers in World War One - Thomas

Thomas Fredrick Reeves, in soldier's uniform. | Image courtesy of Neil Painter
Thomas Fredrick Reeves.
Image courtesy of Neil Painter
Thomas Fredrick Reeves. The image has been artificially coloured. | Image courtesy of Neil Painter
Thomas Fredrick Reeves.
Image courtesy of Neil Painter
  • Thomas Fredrick Reeves was born in 1896, in Fazeley. Later moving to Tamworth and then to Kingsbury, where he worked at Kingsbury Colliery.
  • On 6th August 1914 in Whittington, Staffordshire, Thomas joined the 3rd North Staffordshire Battalion, a line infantry regiment of the British Army, at the age of 18. By September he was a lance corporal.
  • As the 3rd North Staffordshire was a reserve battalion, Thomas was posted at different camps around England. Eventually being posted as a Sergeant with the 1st Battalion near Saint-Quentin, France on 15th January 1918.

Operation Michael

  • The German spring offensive, Operation Michael, was launched on 21 March 1918. This virtually wiped out the battalion, killing 681 men in the attack. Thomas survived as a prisoner of war and was sent to Vohrenbach, Germany.
  • After the war ended, on 3rd January 1919 he was repatriated to Lichfield where he continued in the army. Thomas married Winifred Barnes in Kingsbury and had a daughter in 1925.
  • In the following years, he served in Ireland and Gibraltar. Being promoted to Colour Sergeant in 1931 and later to Warrant Officer 2nd Class in 1932.
  • Thomas retired from the army in 1935 after serving for 21 years, then becoming a postman in Stafford. Rejoining the army in 1939, he was mobilized at Lichfield for 12 months before being discharged on health grounds.
  • He was awarded the Victory Medal 1914-18, the War Medal 1939, the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
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