Leslie Thomas Reeve

A Private with 7th Battalion, Leslie died on 3rd of May 1917 at the age of 28. 

Leslie was born at Lowestoft in 1889, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Reeve. In 1891 his family lived at 3 The Prairie, Lowestoft. By 1901 his father had died, and his family lived at 49 Nelson Street. By 1911 they were living at 1 Freemantle Road, and Leslie, with his brother Kingsley had their own tobacconist business. Later Leslie’s mother lived at 'Jerningham', Warren Road, Corton Road, Lowestoft and the late Thomas Reeve

Leslie enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, service number 31176, and was posted to the 7th Battalion in France and joined B Company. 

On 3 May 1917 the 7th Battalion took part in the 18th Division attack at Cherisy. The attack was due to commence at 3.45 a.m., but was delayed until 4.15 a.m. as it was not light enough to make the attack. The preliminary barrage was not regular and the battalion left their trenches before zero hour and lost direction and could hardly see each other. The attack was further confused by the regiment on the battalion’s left losing direction. A British tank became lost and came through the battalion’s lines, adding to the confusion and some elements of the battalion returned to their start line. The battalion had to be reorganised and began their attack again. The battalion was held up at Fontaine Trench because the wire was deep and undamaged, and the trench strongly defended. At this time, they came under heavy machine-gun fire from nearby trenches. Small groups were able to push forward to the junction of Fontaine and Wood trenches. By 10 a.m. the battalion was in front of Fontaine Trench with their right facing Wood Trench. About 11.30 a.m. the unites either side of the battalion began retiring and some of the men also retired leaving about a company strength in shell holes in front of Fontaine and Wood trenches. At 7.15 p.m. a new barrage commenced and the 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment began an attack on the battalion’s frontage, but this was strongly resisted and all fell back to the original front line and the battalion was relieved during the night.   

The battalion’s casualties were:
Officers: five killed, one died of wounds, eight wounded
Other ranks: 19 killed, 6 died of wounds, 162 wounded, 3 missing and wounded, 4 missing believed killed

Leslie was reported missing on 3 May and later presumed to have been killed in action on that date.