Name
Reuben Packham
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/08/1918
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/4674
Royal Sussex Regiment
7th Bn.
'G' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEACON CEMETERY, SAILLY-LAURETTE
V. I. 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Reuben was born around 1888 in Burgess Hill in Sussex (Service Record) or Clayton, Sussex (Census). His parents were Reuben and Rosena Packham.
In 1901 the family were living at 6 Aberdeen Cottages, Royal George Road, Clayton, Sussex. Present were both parents: Reuben (33) and Rosena (35), with Reuben senior working as a general shop dealer. Their children were: Charity P (10), Celen (8), Grace (7), Charles (5), Reuben (3) and Benjamin (3 months).
By 1911 Reuben (junior) had left the family home and was living at Crunnells Green, Preston, Hitchin, Herts. in the home of William Miles and working as a bricklayer on an estate – probably at Temple Dinsley, Preston.
He married Henrietta Francis S Bird (b 28/4/90) on 25 December 1912 in St Mary’s Church, Hitchin. Their only child Rosina Frances was born 31 January 1914.
Reuben attested on 23 November 1914 into the Royal Sussex Regiment as Private 4674. At that time he was 27 years old living at 71 Lancaster Road, Hitchin Herts., and working as a bricklayer. He was described as 5’ 3” tall, a chest of 35” when expanded and had a tattoo on his left arm. His wife received a separation allowance of 19s 6d a week.
Officially he was recorded as born in Burgess Hill, Sussex, and enlisting in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
Reuben was given the Regimental Number G/4674. He was in training and ‘Home’ service from 23 November 1914 to 3 April 1916, when he went to France, during this time was posted to the 3rd Battalion on 30 November 1914. He landed in France on 4 April and was posted to the 7th Battalion of the Regiment on that date.
He went into a Lewis-gun section, but exactly when is not clear. The Battalion was part of the 36th Brigade in the 12th Division of III Corps in the 4th Army in France. By February 1916 he was on the Western Front and fought at Arras, Cambrai in 1917, on the Somme, at St. Quentin in May 1917. He was wounded there May 3rd with a gun shot wound to his left leg. He was admitted to 104 Field Ambulance the following day and moved to the 16 General Hospital at Le Treport on the same day and then went to Etaples, where he was treated and convalesced until he was discharged on the 17 June, joining his unit ‘In The Field’ on the 29th. He was away from his unit again as he was noted as re-joining them on 7 July 1917. Perhaps he away sick or perhaps training related to his joining the Lewis gun section? He was also in the Retreat of March 1918.
His death coincides with the Battle of Amiens when the Division was astride the Bray to Corbie road. At the time the 36th Brigade had been ‘borrowed’ by the 18th Division the previous day due to the exhaustion of the 54th Brigade in counter attacks.
On the day of his death (8/8/1918) he met his brother in the trenches for the first time in two years. They went "over the top" together in the same attack but became separated. Later it was discovered that Reuben was missing, but he was recorded as wounded in action on that day and later presumed killed in action. However, his body was recovered and buried in Plot 5, Row I, Grave 5 in the Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette, east of Amiens in France.
Additional Information
His pension cards record Henrietta Francis Packham as his widow and dependant, living at 71 Lancaster Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a grant of £6 on 14 September 1918 and then pension of 20s 5d a week from 10 March 1919. Their child was recorded as Rosina Frances Packham (b 31/1/1914).
After his death £5 2s 9d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow on 20 November 1918, Later, a war gratuity of £17 10s was authorised to be paid to her split between 2 December 1919 (£5 16s 8d) and on 24 November 1919 (£11 13s 0d).
His widow received his effects on 29 November 1918 – seemingly jus his identity disc, his commemorative scroll on 10 February 1920, his British War Medal on 20 January 1921 and his Victory Medal on the 29 October 1921.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
