L/Cpl 24620 Reginald Fenwick Rezin

• Age: 23
• From: Islington, London
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 20th December 1915
• Commemorated at: Hebuterne Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: I.N.20

Reginald Fenwick Rezin was born in Islington, London in the third quarter of 1892, the second of two sons born to William Rezin, a tailor’s cutter from Scotland, and his wife Ellen (nee Hayes), from Cork, Ireland. His parents married in the fourth quarter of 1885. 

In 1901 the family were living at 81 Lady Margaret Road, St Pancras, Middlesex. His father is 48 years of age and his mother is 46. His brother Herbert is 11 years of age and Reginald is 8.

His father died in the third quarter of 1901. 

The Census of 1911 finds the family still living at 81 Lady Margaret Road, his mother is a widow and is a boarding-house keeper. Reginald is employed as an assistant selling motor clothing, while his older brother, William Herbert, born 1889, is a furniture salesman. There is also a visitor listed; Ernst Martens a school master secretary born in Germany.

Reginald enlisted in Liverpool joining the 18^th Battalion, initially as Private 24620 before being promoted to Lance Corporal.

From the 23^rd September 1914 the Battalion was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

In December 1915, all 4 Pals Battalions were “blooded” in trench warfare. L/Cpl Rezin and others of the 18^th were sent up the line near Hebuterne, with his Company attached to the Buckinghamshire Battalion of the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry. On the night of 20^th December, Reginald was sent with members of his own Battalion and the Bucks on a patrol into No Man’s Land, with a Lewis Gun team from the 18^th. They met a German patrol and became engaged in a firefight. Two or more Germans were seen to fall but sadly Reginald was shot through the spine and killed aged 23.

He was the first Liverpool Pal to be killed in action. His body was recovered next day and he now rests at Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Grave I N 20.

The village gave its name to a severe action fought by the French on the 10th-13th June 1915, in the "Second Battle of Artois". It was taken over by British troops from the French in the same summer, and it remained subject to shell fire during the Battles of the Somme. It was again the scene of fighting in March 1918, when the New Zealand Division held up the advancing enemy; and during the following summer it was partly in German hands. It was later "adopted" by the Borough of Evesham. Hebuterne Military Cemetery was begun by the 48th (South Midland) Division in August 1915, and used by fighting units and Field Ambulances (particularly those of the 56th (London) Division) until the spring of 1917; and it was reopened in 1918. The conditions of burial explain the irregularity of the rows. There are now over 750, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, nearly 50 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 17 soldiers from the United Kingdom, known or believed to be buried among them. The graves of two American soldiers have been removed from the South-West corner. The cemetery covers an area of 6,502 square metres and is enclosed by a red brick wall.

Reginald earned his three medals.

Grahan Maddocks, in his book "Liverpool Pals" quotes from one of Rezin’s comrades, Private W. Gregory, who says -

“We went down to Hebuterne, near Gommecourt, and we went in for a day and a night with the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry, to get an idea of trench warfare. We had to walk right over the top to get to the front line, there were no communication trenches. We had a fellow killed within five minutes (ie Rezin). We were sent out the following night and we found his cap. I’ve forgotten his name now but it was a terrible feeling to lose a man”.

Soldiers Effects to mother Ellen, Pension to Ellen and Gladys Rezin.

Probate records show that on 24th February 1920 his widowed mother received Reginald's effect of £28.00. The record shows his address at the time of his death was 3 Rowan Avenue, Urmston, Near Manchester. 

Reginald is commemorated on the Old Russelians WW1 Memorial housed at Thomas More Catholic School in Purley. 

There is a record of a Lieutenant William Herbert Rezin, of Mitcham, Surrey, serving with the Notts & Derbyshire Regiment from 1916 to the end of the war, earning 3 medals, which in 1921 were sent to him at 11 Albert Road, Mitcham, Surrey. This was Reginald’s older brother.

We currently have no further information on Reginald Fenwick Rezin, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.