William Reeve
- Off-licence and also a warehouseman (hosiery manufacturer)
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
William Reeve married Mabel Ethel Barks at New Basford St Augustine on 27 March 1937. William (25), the son of Harry Reeve (deceased), was a warehouseman, and living at 7 Pulborough Close, Heathfield, Basford, at the time of his marriage. Ethel was living at 34 Maud Street. Her father, Frank, was a painter and decorator.
William Reeve was born on 16 June 1911, the son of Harry Reeve and his wife Elizabeth (née Dale), who were married in 1890. William was the youngest of seven children; his siblings were Harry b. 1891, George birth reg. 1893 (JFM), Ernest birth reg. 1894 (JFM), Lottie b. 1895, Elizabeth birth reg. 1897 (JFM) and Florence birth reg. 1908 (JFM).
William's father was a publican, and in 1921 had the Coachmakers' Arms, 109 St Ann's Well Road. His father died in 1923 and his mother in 1932 and it appears that William then lived with his married sister, Elizabeth Burton and her husband Robert who were recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register at 7 Pulborough Close. For further family details see the record on this Roll of Honour of his brother, R/6539 Rifleman Ernest Reeves, 16th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed on 6 November 1916.
His wife was the daughter of Frank and Mabel Barks (née Gamble) who were married in 1906 (OND Nottingham). They had two children who were born in Nottingham, Francis William b. 1907 and Mabel b. 1914. Mabel's parents were the licensees of the Durham Ox, Orston.
William and Mabel were living at 2 Shaw Street, Ruddington, in 1939 when the England & Wales register was compiled. The register gave William's occupation as 'off-licence, warehouseman (hosiery manufacturer)' while his wife was a shopkeeper/general dealer.
Their son Barry was born in 1942 (AMJ).
At the time of William's death in 1943 the family was living on High Street, Orston.
Mabel married Sidney Richard Baggaley in 1947. Mabel died in 1999 and her husband died the following year.
Sergeant (Flight Engineer) RAFVR, 57 Squadron, Bomber Command.
57 Squadron was a Blenheim squadron at the beginning of the war, but then flew Lancasters from 1942 until the end of the war. The Squadron was based at Scampton, Lincolnshire, from September 1942 until moving to East Kirkby in August 1943. It continued to operate from East Kirkby until November 1945.
William and two other members of the seven crew of Lancaster 111 ED941 DX-V were killed on 28 September 1943: 'The crew landed at Waterbeach on return from Hanover the evening before [27 September]. During transit flight back to base, and on the approach, both port engines cut and the aircraft crashed on the north side of East Kirkby airfield.' (www.roll-of-honour.com/cgi-bin/ww2603and57.cgi)
William was buried in Orston (St Mary) Churchyard on Saturday, 2 October.
Also killed were:
149621 Pilot Officer George Melton (Tim) Hargrave RAFVR, age 22. Buried Upwell Cemetery Norfolk. (CWGC 2428005)
1463189 Flight Sergeant George Edward Penny RAFVR, age 22. Buried Brompton Cemetery, London. (CWGC 2428005)
William's brother, R/6539 Rifleman Ernest Reeves, 16th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, was killed in action on 5 November 1916 and is commemorated on the Theipval Memorial. (See record on this Roll of Honour.) Two other brothers, Harry and George, also served in the Great War.
William is commemorated on a memorial to 57 Squadron at East Kirkby Airfield:
WMO 262067: Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby Airfield, East Kirkby PE23 4DE.
Orston St Mary: the church does not have a WW2 memorial. However, one of the websites about the history of 57 Squadron includes a reference to the accident in which William was killed and mentions a rose bowl which was a gift to the church in memory of William.
CWGC Additional information: Husband of Mabel Ethel Reeve, of Orston.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'He gave the greatest gift of all, his own unfinished life'
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Deaths', 1 October 1943: 'Reeve. In September, William, Flight Engineer, RAF, dearly loved husband of Mabel and darling daddy of Barry, son-in-law of Mr and Mrs Frank Barks, Durham Ox, Orston. He died that we might live. Interment 2.15 Saturday Orston Church.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 1 October 1943: ‘Local War Casualties … The death is announced of Flt. Eng. W Reeve, RAF, of High-street, Orston.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Additional research inc. link with Ernest Reeves (WW1), RF (May 2026)
William Reeve
Grave, Orston (St Mary) Churchyard. Photograph Tracy Dodds June 2022
Photo of William Reeve
Photograph published in the Nottingham Evening Post, 1 October 1943 (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)