Wilfred Reynolds

Corporal Wilfred Reynolds enlisted at Mansfield 19th January 1915. He first entered a theatre of war in France on 17th August 1915. He won the Military Medal on 31st July 1917. He was killed in action on 30th September 1917 and is buried at Prowse Point Military Cemetery Belgium Grave Reference: IV C 1

Obituary in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 1st November 1917 :- 'Corporal W. Reynolds, Sherwood Foresters, who enlisted January 19th, 1915, went to the front July 20th, 1915, and won the Military Medal July 31st, 1917, was killed in action September 30th, 1917, only four hours after he got back from leave.' The report of how he earned the Military Medal was published after he had been killed. Article published on 5th October 1917 in the Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times :- “KIRKBY CORPORAL GAINS THE MILITARY MEDAL. “PUT THREE GERMAN GUNS OUT OF ACTION. “Corporal Reynolds (22471), of the Sherwood Foresters, who enlisted on January 19th, 1915, and went out to France six months later, has been awarded the military medal for bravery on August 1st. We have no detailed account of his gallantry beyond this, that on the date named he had charge of a Lewis gun, and whilst under fire he succeeded in putting three German machine guns out of action. Reynolds was recently home (41, Sherwood-street, East Kirkby) on furlough. Prior to joining the army he was employed at Bentinck Colliery.” Obituary and article are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. His brother Private Ferdinand Reynolds enlisted at Mansfield whilst residing at Annesley Woodhouse, he initially served with the service number 22472 in The Leicestershire Regiment. He was killed in action on 3rd October 1915 having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.