George Reeves R/4274
| Initial lead courtesy of Academia. | ||||||||
| George Reeves was born on 26th July 1891 at Freetown, Sierra Leone, and was a merchant seaman at the time of his enlistment. His next of kin is recorded as his adopted sister, Josephine Hanciles, residing in Freetown. | ||||||||
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George entered the Army Reserve on 27th June 1917 and was mobilised immediately, entering the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve two days later in the 4th Reserve Battalion. On 18th October he was drafted to the Hawke Battalion, joining the battalion on 13th November. On 20th December George was sent to the 149th Field Ambulance and admitted to the General Hospital at Calais five days later, diagnosed with a mild case of venereal disease. He was discharged to the Base Depot on 25th April 1918 and rejoined his battalion on 14th May. On 14th September George’s superior officer awarded him 14 days’ Field Punishment No. 2 for disobeying a lawful command. Field Punishment No. 2 involved hard labour, loss of pay, and confinement in shackles or fetters while marching with the unit. On 4th November George was again sent to the 149th Field Ambulance and admitted to the 51st General Hospital at Étaples two days later with a diagnosis of orchitis (inflammation of the testicles). He was discharged to the Base Depot on 10th December. On 13th April he embarked at Boulogne for England and was demobilised two days later at Ripon. Following demobilisation George was registered as a merchant seaman, serving as a fireman on the Anglo-Chilean, a cargo steamer built in Sunderland and operated by the Nitrate Producers Steamship Company, between June 1919 and October 1921. |
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| During the Second World War George again served as a merchant seaman and was awarded the Atlantic Star, indicating that he had completed at least six months’ service on the convoys during the Battle of the Atlantic. | ||||||||
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