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Commemoration Details
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Buried at Wancourt British Cemetery, near Arras, France. Plot IV, Row B, Grave 33.
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Other Information / Remarks
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William Reed lived at Briggate (later Main Street), Garforth. He was the eldest of six children to Fred and Annie Reed (nee
Perkins). His brothers and sisters were, Annie, Emma, Fred (died aged 4 years), Jack and Alfred. It was not unusual at this
time for bereaved parents to give a subsequent child the same name as one who had already died, especially as in this case
the dead child had the name of his father.
William Reed was born in Hunslet, Leeds, the only one of the six Reed children not born in Barwick, and moved to Potterton
Lane in the village between 1893 - 1896.
On 15 April 1915, He married Gladys Mary Eaton at All Saints' Church in Barwick, and it was as a couple that they moved
to live in Garforth. Gladys died on 4 October 1916 soon after the birth of their son, Colin who was born on 12 September 1916.
While Gladys died, Colin survived, only to die in the influenza epidemic at the age of two years.
William Reed volunteered for the Army and was attested on 10 December 1915. He was caled to join the Army in early 1916.
In a letter from November 1917, copied to me by William Reed's nephew, Mr F. Reed, formerly of Barwick, it is clear that
although he was having to face the worst of the flanders weather, he was still concerned about life at home. The war was not
mentioned other than commenting on the heavy rain which had recently fallen. There is also a request in the letter for the
local newspaper to be sent "as often as possible".
Obituary notices appeared in the Yorkshire Evening Post on Friday 13 September, Saturday 14 September and Monday 16 September
1918.
I am very grateful to Mr Reed and his family, for the information above, and for allowing me to use the photographs of
his uncle which appear on the photographs page.
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