Reginald Greaves was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, on 05th June 1895, the only son of Albert Edward Greaves and his wife Elizabeth (née Thornley). His parents, both from the Blackburn area, married in 1894 and had three children. Reginald had two younger sisters, Jenny, born in 1897, and Alice in 1899. He was baptised on 21st July in St. Paul’s Church, Blackburn, his parents living at 23 New Park Place, and his father’s occupation listed as butcher. 

 

He enlisted in Liverpool in September 1914 joining the 19th Battalion as Private 21506. 

At some point he transferred to the Royal Engineers serving as a Corporal. Having received a Commission he was serving as a Lieutenant with R.G.A. 12th Siege Battery when he died from influenza (Spanish Flu) on 22nd February 1919, aged 23.

He now rests at Tourcoing Cemetery.  

His death was reported in a local Blackburn newspaper: 

“LEAD KINDLY LIGHT”

 

“News has been received of the death from pneumonia, supervening upon influenza, at a clearing station in France, of Lieut. Reginald Greaves, R.G.A., only son of Mr. A. E. Greaves, Chief Food Inspector at the Port of Liverpool, and a grandson of the late Mr. George Greaves, of Wiltshire, a well-known local family.  Mr. A. E. Greaves was formerly chief meat inspector under the Corporation at Blackburn.  He went from Blackburn to Hull, thence to his present position at Liverpool.  The father was an old Volunteer and Territorial, and at the outbreak of war went on active service in Egypt and Gallipoli. He is only now recovering from shell-shock.  Lieut. Greaves, who was 24 years of age, was born at Blackburn.  He was educated at Liverpool College and was a student at the University when war broke out. He joined the Liverpool “Pals”, afterwards transferring to the Royal Engineers. After serving in France and Belgium he was recommended for a commission and was gazetted to the R.G.A. (Howitzer).  He had only just returned to France after leave when he became a victim of influenza.”

Also in the Liverpool Echo 25th February 1919

DEATH OF LIVERPOOL OFFICER IN FRANCE

Intelligence has been received of the death from pneumonia supervening upon an attack of influenza, at No. 10 Clearing Station, France of Lieutenant Reginald Greaves R.G.A., the only son of Mr A. E. Greaves, Chief Food Inspector, Port of Liverpool. Lieutenant Greaves, who was 24 years of age, was educated at the Liverpool College, and at the outbreak of hostilities was a student at University College, Liverpool. He joined the 19th Battalion Liverpool Pals, afterwards transferring to the Royal Engineers, and after service in France and Belgium was recommended for a commission, being gazetted to the Royal Garrison Artillery  (Howitzer). Lieutenant Greaves had only returned to France a few days ago, after a well merited leave. His fellow officers and comrades of his brigade have expressed to his parents the deepest sympathy in the loss of this young and promising officer. 

His father, Albert Edward, served as a Corporal (Lance Sergeant) in the 1/4th East Lancs Regiment, taking five years off his age to enlist (he would have been 49 years old when war broke out).  He arrived in France on 09th May 1915.  Later that month the battalion landed at Cape Helles in Gallipoli, and took part in the action to capture the heights around the village of Krithia. By August the division had lost about 2/3rd of its men through battle casualties, injuries or sickness. The Battalion made a successful withdrawal from the Helles bridgehead and on 28th December 1915 landed on Mudros and returned to Egypt.

 

His father was discharged on 14th November 1916 with a Silver War Badge and a disability pension for “melancholia”, 100% attributable to his active service. 

Soldiers Effects went to mother Mrs Elizabeth Greaves, Pension record has no award

 

His mother died in 1928, aged 61.  By then the family was living at 31 Prospect Vale, Fairfield.

 

In 1939 on the eve of the Second World War, his father is still living in Prospect Vale. He was 74 and retired, and living with married daughter Jenny and family.  His father lived through the second war and died in 1950, at the age of 85.