John Reeves is not included on the Overton War Memorial, but there is an index card for him in The Flintshire Roll of Honour in The County Record Office in Hawarden. Card (Overton F20) gives his address as Bangor Road, Overton. It says he was Private 12935 of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He served from 914 and was Killed in Action 25th September 1914. (This death date was a mistake and should have read 1915. ) The card was signed by Mrs. J.A. Reeves on the 6th December 1919.
John Reeves was born about 1883 in Hanmer, Flintshire. he was the son of John & Anne Reeves, who on the 1891 census were living at Braden Heath, Welshampton, Shropshire. Head of the household was John Reeves, 47, an Agricultural Labourer who had been born in Hanmer. His wife Anne was 44. She had been born in Bestford Wood, Shropshire. Also in the household was John, 8, and his brother James, 4, both of whom had been born in Welshampton.
John Reeves was not listed with his family in the 1901 census. He was possibly recorded living at (Upper?) Osbaston Farm, Kinnerly, Shropshire. This household comprised of Samuel & Matilda Ward and their daughter Maria. There were 3 servants, one of whom was a John Reeves aged 18, and a Waggoner at the Farm (Ag. Horse). He had been born in Kinnerly, Salop.
John had married between 1901 and 1911. I believe to Jane Ann Pritchard in 1904 (Ellesmere Vol. 6a, Page 1601). In the 1911 census John & his wife were living at No. 3, High Street, Southsea, Nr. Wrexham. Head of the household was John, 32, a Blast Furnace Filler who had been born Breadneath, Salop. His wife of eight years, Jane Ann was 32, and had been born in Brymbo, Denbighshire. Six children had been born to her but sadly 3 of them had died. Their surviving children were William John, 6 and Joseph, 4, both of whom had been born in Overton, Flintshire . Their daughter Bertha Ann, aged 2 was born in Brymbo.
UK soldiers who died in The Great war 1914-19 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk includes an entry for John Reeves. Itconfirms his regimental details as above and gives his birthplace as Bettisfield, Salop He enlisted in Wrexham.
His WWI Medal Rolls Index Card also on Ancestry, tells us that his first Theatre of War was France and he entered therein on 19th July 1915. His death was accepted as the 25th September 1915, age 33 years. (Which suggests he was first missing then presumed dead). The card lists his medals.
The UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects in which the army calculated what moneys were owed to deceased soldiers, includes an entry for John Reeves. it tells us that there was a Balance of £6 9s 3d. Sole Legatee of his War Gratuity was his widow Jane A. who received £3 10s on the 3rd October 1919.
NB> Flintshire Roll of Honour, County Record Office in Hawarden.
There are also Flintshire WW1 Index Cards for other Reeve boys. It is possible that they were related to John Reeves. These soldiers survived. They were …
REEVES, Stanley, Cloy Lane, Overton L86
REEVES, Percival. Salop Road, Overton L 88
Also REEVES, George, Back Lane, (Overton L 87) and REEVES, Job Mealor, School Lane, Back Lane, (Overton L89) who were brothers.