Egbert Robert Trethowan Reeves

Egbert Robert Trethowan Reeves

Australia's Fighting Sons of the Empire page 197.
Personal Information
Date of Birth	9 Nov 1894
Place of Birth	Geelong, Victoria
Death	1 Jan 1957
Place of Death	Yarloop, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	21 years, 3 months
Description	5'10' (1.78m) tall ; 154lbs 69.853 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; black hair
Occupation	Fitter
Religion	Church of England
Address	No.1 Mill, Jarrahdale
Next of Kin	Father , Mr. William Reeves
Military Information
Reg Number	6084
Date of Enlistment	13 Feb 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	16th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement, posted to C Company / 4th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	7 Aug 1916 ‒ 30 Sep 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A28 Miltiades
Date of Return	3 Sep 1919 ‒ 17 Oct 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A37 Barambah
Fate	POW 11 Apr 1917 at 1st Bullecourt Returned to Australia
Monument	Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Ballarat, Victoria
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Apprenticed to Millars Trading Co for 5 years as a fitter. Had a previous rejection for service due to varicose veins.

War Service

Entered camp on 5 Mar 1916 and soon after was allotted to the 19th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion, travelling with it to England from Fremantle where they boarded HMAT A28 Miltiades which disembarked them at Plymouth on 30 Sep 1916. On arrival he entered a training battalion for 10 or so weeks to complete his training for trench warfare.

Egbert proceeded overseas to France on 21 Dec 1916 through Folkestone where he boarded HMT Princesse Clementine. Taken on strength by the 16th Battalion on 2 Jan 1917 at Ribemont where the battalion was entering a rest phase. March 1917 was spent regrouping and training before a move back to the front lines occurred in early April with the intention of attacking the Hindenburg Line. Following several changes of plans, and failure of the tanks to arrive in time for an attack on 10 April, the attack on the OG1 and OG2 trenches between Bullecourt and Reincourt took place early on 11 Apr 1917. Despite a complete lack of artillery and tank support the Australians captured parts of their objectives, but were eventually forced back, taking very heavy losses. Over 1,000 were captured when they ran out of ammunition or were surrounded by the Germans, who in the absence of artillery, had moved up reinforcements.

Egbert was one of those captured near Reincourt. . The early days of captivity were bleak with the prisoners kept close to the front lines restoring roads and carrying out other works behind the German front line. Officially interned at Dülman Camp before transferring to Gustrow Camp.

Mr and Mrs Reeves, Jarrahdale, have received notice that their son Private E.R. Reeves, 16th Batt., has been missing since April 11.

Repatriated to England (Hull) on 11 Jan 1919, Egbert was sent to Rippon where all ex POWs were questioned on the treatment that they had received. Granted leave from 13 Jan 1919 until 14 Mar 1919, but appears to have returned from leave early (18 Feb 1919) to seek treatment for VD, and was admitted on 21 Mar 1919 to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital in Codford. Absence due to VD totalled 113 days as at 11 Jul 1919 when he was released from Codford.

Discharged by the 5th Military District on 2 Dec 1919.

Post War

In 1928 Egbert married Elizabeth Fanny Chalmers at Jarrahdale. Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1931 Jarrahdale, fitter; 1936 - 1954 Yarloop, fitter

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial
• Ballarat POW Memorial