George Reed
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Joseph was born in 1891 in Daybrook and was the son of Joseph a pipe fitter and his first wife, Lucy Reed née King. His father Joseph was born in 1852 in Fenstanton, Huntingdon; he died in 1909 in Nottingham aged 56 yrs. His mother Lucy King was born in 1857 in Nottingham; she died in 1902 in Nottingham aged 46 yrs. Joseph and Lucy were married in 1879 in Radford and had the following children: Annie b1880 Nottingham, Charles b1882 Nottingham, George b1886 Daybrook, Mary b1887, Joseph b1891 Daybroook, Amy b1894 Daybrook, Clara b1895 Daybrook, Maria b1897 Daybrook, William b1899 Heningford Grey, Huntingdon and Agnes b1899 Heningford Grey Huntingdon. Joseph married secondly Annie King in 1909 in Nottingham, he died the same year aged 56 yrs. In the 1911 census the family is living at 26 Kenilworth Terrace Portland Street, Nottingham, with their step-mother Annie Reed. Annie is shown as head of the family 57 yrs a widow and in the household are her step-children Annie 30 yrs a lace mender, Julia 22 yrs a lace maker, Joe 20 yrs a lace machine builder, Clara 16 yrs an errand girl, Maria 14 yrs a slip winder, William 12 yrs a scholar and Agnes 12 yrs a scholar. George married Ethel Billson (b. 1888) in 1909 in Nottingham; they had a son, George Leslie, born 1910 in Nottingham. In 1911 George (25), a brick carter, and Ethel (23) and their 10 month old son lived at 90 Independent Street, Radford, Nottingham. At the time of George's death in 1914 they were living at Frances Villa, Second Avenue, Carlton Hill, Nottingham. George's brother Joseph also served in the war (265426 Sergeant 1/7th Bn Sherwood Foresters). He died of wounds on 17 June 1917 (Fosse No 10 Communal Cemetery Extension, Sains-en-Gohelle).
Private George Reed enlisted in Nottingham on 17th June 1914, he gave his place of birth as Daybrook, Nottingham, his residence as, Nottingham and his occupation as iron fitter. He served in the 1st battalion the Sherwood Foresters and was killed in action on 8th December at Neuve Chapelle. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial.
'In memoriam' published 8th December 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “REED. – In loving memory of Private George Reed, killed in action, 8th December, 1914. Fondly remembered. – Wife, [Ethel] child.” It was reported on 7th January 1915 in the Nottingham Evening Post that Elsie Matthews had received a Christmas card from her brother, Pte. Edward Guy Matthews, 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment. The card had been ordered by Pte. George Reed (pictured), one of his comrades who did not live to post it himself. “GREETINGS FROM THE DEAD. “Touching Story of a Sherwood Forester’s Xmas Cards. “A touching story of a Nottingham soldier's Christmas cards that were never despatched has come to light within the past few days through a letter received from the front by Miss Elsie Matthews, of Holden-street, Nottingham. The soldier, now dead, is Private G. Read, of the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters. His parents reside in 2nd Avenue, Carlton-hill. “A few weeks before Christmas Private Read, in common with a number of his comrades in the battalion, ordered some special Christmas cards to send to “those at home.” These were in time delivered to him in the British lines, but before he could address them he was shot through the head. The cards were found in his pocket after death. “One of them is enclosed by Private Guy Matthews [1] in the letter to his sister. “The card in question bears on the front the badge of the regiment, while on the two centre leaves are printed in colours the regimental flags, and underneath the words, “These colours, presented to the regiment in 1839 have now been deposited in the Nottingham Castle Museum.” Deceased had written in it: “With all good wishes for Christmas and the New Year, from Private Read, 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters.” “In sending the card to his sister, Private Matthews has added the following message:— “Dear Elsie, — The man who ordered this Christmas card has been killed in the war, so I have had it instead. Please try and keep it as long as ever you can.” He adds, in his letter, that he was at Read’s side when the fatal bullet struck him.” [1] Pte. Edward Guy Matthews, 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, landed in France with the battalion on 4th November 1914. Later promoted to Company Sergeant Major, he transferred to the Black Watch. Above in memoriam and newspaper article are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
