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Post by maw on Nov 16, 2015 12:23:21 GMT
I am researching former Sutton United players who lost their lives in the two world wars.
On the Sutton United FC Roll of Honour 1939-1945 is an entry for 'Alfred F. Reeve' but I cannot find a record of him on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database.
Can anyone provide any information on this man?
Could the name be incorrect?
What was his connection with Sutton United?
Mark
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markf
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Post by markf on Nov 16, 2015 17:43:18 GMT
Alf Reeve played for Sutton before WWII. I have some info on him and will try to post later.
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Post by steviem on Nov 16, 2015 17:50:13 GMT
Not saying that it's the right one but there is a record on the CWGC website for an Albert Reeve of The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). Died 07/02/1944, aged 25, and buried in the Minturno War Cemetary near Naples. Additional information "Son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Henry Reeve; husband of Ethel Gladys Reeve, of Rotherhithe, London"
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Post by sallycat on Nov 17, 2015 7:58:48 GMT
Think we're looking for an Alfred rather than an Albert.
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Post by steviem on Nov 17, 2015 9:41:17 GMT
Absolutely, my mistake. Had a quick look at the Golden Jubilee handbook last night and he joined in the 1935/36 season but is not mentioned thereafter. His name is given as Alfred F Reeve in the text as well as in the Roll of Honour. There are a couple of photos featuring him in that Handbook and one in the United in Pictures book.
I'll do a bit more work this evening.
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Post by maw on Nov 17, 2015 11:13:08 GMT
Thank you all for your input.
I have copies of 'United in Pictures' and 'Sutton United Football Club 1898-1973, 75th Anniversary Souvenir Book'.
Is the 'Golden Jubilee Handbook' mentioned by steviem available at the Club Shop?
I would like to find evidence for his death in (or just after) WW2, so that this can be added to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database, or altered if his name is incorrect.
Mark
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Post by maw on Nov 17, 2015 11:25:25 GMT
The only entries 'Alfred x Reeve / A. F. Reeve / F. A. Reeve' recorded on the CWGC database for the WW2 period are below. Could one of them have the wrong middle name? There may be a clue in 'additional information'.
Alfred Percy Reeve Rank: Ordinary Telegraphist Service No: C/JX 232704 Date of Death: 11/03/1943 Age: 27 Regiment/Service: Royal Navy, H.M.S. Harvester Panel Reference: 71, 2. Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial Additional Information: Son of Wilfred Percy and Ethel May Reeve, of East Dulwich, London. Alfred Edward Reeve Rank: Private Service No: 1642273 Date of Death: 07/01/1945 Age: 34 Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers, 4th Bn. Grave Reference: Joint grave V. 240-241. Cemetery: Brunssum War Cemetery Additional Information: Son of Frederick and Lucy Reeve, of Thetford, Norfolk. Husband of Amy A. Reeve, of Thetford.
Frank Alfred Reeve Rank: Sergeant Trade: W.Op./Air Gnr. Service No: 1378098 Date of Death: 01/10/1942 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Grave Reference: Row E. Grave 23. Cemetery: BURY CEMETERY, HUNTINGDONSHIRE
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Post by steviem on Nov 17, 2015 12:26:29 GMT
Thank you all for your input. I have copies of 'United in Pictures' and 'Sutton United Football Club 1898-1973, 75th Anniversary Souvenir Book'. Is the 'Golden Jubilee Handbook' mentioned by steviem available at the Club Shop? I would like to find evidence for his death in (or just after) WW2, so that this can be added to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database, or altered if his name is incorrect. Mark I don't have one at hand to check but I think the 75th Anniverary Handbook reproduced the Golden Jubilee one verbatim and, presumably, the photos as well.
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markf
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Post by markf on Nov 17, 2015 12:38:21 GMT
I have a newspaper article reporting his death and the circumstances. Will post later this evening.
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Post by steviem on Nov 17, 2015 12:43:17 GMT
Another way to search would be through medal records. Records for WW2 Campaign and Service medals are held by the Armed Services Medal Office. There are links to gallantry medals sites on the National Archives website. If he was in the Armed Services, he would have been eligible for service medals at least and, if awarded posthumously, the record may say who they were sent to.
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markf
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Posts: 3,191
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Post by markf on Nov 17, 2015 20:36:41 GMT
Alfred Percy Reeve Rank: Ordinary Telegraphist Service No: C/JX 232704 Date of Death: 11/03/1943 Age: 27 Regiment/Service: Royal Navy, H.M.S. Harvester Panel Reference: 71, 2. Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial Additional Information: Son of Wilfred Percy and Ethel May Reeve, of East Dulwich, London.
Above is the correct Alf Reeve. He was killed while serving on HMS Harvester as part of the North Atlantic Convoys. The report in the local paper suggests that having sunk a German U-boat, the Harvester was itself sunk by a U-boat almost immediately after and sadly Alf went down with the ship. The date of the newspaper - either the Advertiser or Sutton & Cheam Mail - was 9th September 1943.
With regards to Alf's SUFC career, he joined in 1935 and stayed until the end of the 37/8 season playing mainly at right half. He made 73 appearances (that records provide).
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Post by maw on Nov 18, 2015 13:35:23 GMT
Mark,
This is very useful information and will allow me to make further enquiries.
Many thanks.
Mark
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Post by wellie on Nov 18, 2015 16:33:27 GMT
Fascinating stuff!HMS Harvester was originally called Jurua and was an H Class destroyer ordered by the BRAZILIAN Navy in the late 1930s.It was bought by the Royal Navy in Sept 1939 and named Harvester.Was active in the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation.Later that year She and another destroyer sank a U Boat and in 1943 she rammed and sunk another while on convoy duty.Sadly she was sunk the next day by another U Boat.Very brave men in terrible conditions.
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Post by erithian on Nov 19, 2016 10:12:16 GMT
I thought you might like to know about Alf’s last football club. I don’t know where he was from 1938-40, but on 10 February 1940 he made his debut for Erith and Belvedere at right-half in a 4-0 defeat at Shorts Sports. He made 13 appearances for the Deres that spring, mainly in the South-East Combination league, including a 3-1 defeat at SUFC on 27 April 1940. He made 15 more appearances in 1940-41, and his last senior match was a 4-0 win v Woolwich Poly on 27 December. He is reported as being called up for service with the Navy at the end of January 1941.
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Post by maw on Nov 19, 2016 14:13:36 GMT
Thank you for posting this information - it has been added to the database.
Biography so far:
Alfred Percy REEVE 1915 - 1943
Alfred Percy Reeve was born in Poplar, London in 1915. He resided at 9, Thorncombe Road, East Dulwich. He was serving as C/JX 232704 Ordinary Telegraphist in the Royal Navy when he was killed in action onboard the destroyer HMS Harvester in the North Atlantic on 11th March 1943, age 27. The Harvester was escorting a convoy when she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-432. There were only 60 survivors from a crew of 243. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Alf played for Sutton United from 1935 to 1938, making 73 appearances, mainly at right-half. He played later for Erith and Belvedere FC before joining the Navy in January 1941.
Image: Team photograph 1935/36 season [United in Pictures]
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