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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 361

(x) Pair: Private O. B. Reeves, Bedfordshire Regiment, late Army Pay Corps, killed in action on 23 May 1917 when his battalion was shelled and then gassed in quick succession

British War and Victory Medals (39469 Pte. O. B. Reeves. Bedf. R.), nearly extremely fine (2)

Oliver Blake Reeves was born at Willesden, London in 1892, the son of William Henry Buckhurst, known as Reeves and Jane Blake of 338 High Road, Willesden. Working as a Cost Clerk in London later joining 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 5420. He is also listed as having served in the Army Pay Corps with the same number. Reeves transferred to the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment with his new service number after 1916 and saw service on the Western Front. The Battalion was particularly heavily engaged at the Battle of Arras in April 1917, seeing action at the First and Second Battle of the Scarpe. They were also present at the Battle of Arleux, though during after the assault on Greenland Hill on 29 April it was realised that only 58 men came through the attack. The Battalion came under extremely heavy fire on the night of 22/23 May 1917 in the support trenches near Tilloy. First regular munitions and then gas shells hammered them throughout the night causing casualties of 7 dead and 14 wounded. One of the killed was Reeves, recorded as dying on the morning of 23 May. He is buried in the Tank Cemetery, Guemappe and was originally recorded as unknown. His body was however later identified; sold together with copied census information, service information and extracts from the war diary of the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£95

Starting price
£40