Egbert Robert Trethowan Reeves
From Our Contribution
 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 ; 154 lbs 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) |
| 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 where he entered a training battalion for 10 or so weeks to complete his training for trench warfare.
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. [1]. 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.[2]
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
Notes
- ↑ "Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files - Egbert Robert Trethowan Reeves". Australian War Memorial. 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ↑ South West Advertiser 25 May 1917