Name
Reuben Francis Bassill
17.10.1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/12/1916
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31827
York and Lancaster Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CONTAY BRITISH CEMETERY, CONTAY
VIII. C. 16
France
Headstone Inscription
He nobly fought, he did his best, Grant him O Lord, Eternal rest
UK & Other Memorials
St Albans Citizens Memorial, Town Hall (old) Memorial, St Albans, Not on the Sandridge memorials
Pre War
Reuben Francis was the youngest of nine children ( three daughters and six sons) born to George Bassill and his wife Eliza nee Staines.
He was born 17 October 1882, and the birth was registered in the Hatfield district of Hertfordshire. Reuben was baptised in St. Albans three years later on 8th April 1885.
His mother Eliza died in 1883 , the year after Reuben was born and in the 1891 census, we find Reuben age nine years old , in the household of his eldest sister Mary Ann and her husband Edwin Hathaway , living on Victoria. Road in St. Albans. 1892. His father is still alive but living elsewhere in the town and he died the following year.
In the 1901 census taken in April , Reuben is still living with the Hathaway couple along with a brother James, the address given is 9, Midland Terrace, Victoria Road, St. Albans. His occupation was a Hat Stiffener.
He married Ada May Robinson later that year on 30th June 1901, in St. Albans, and his only child , a son , Francis William George Bassill was born later that year on 24 December 1901.
In the 1911 census the family of Reuben , Ada and Francis are living at 15 Dalton Street , both Reuben and Ada are working in the Straw Hat industry. Reuben was a straw Hat stiffener and his wife a Hat finisher.
Officially recorded as born in St Albans and enlisted there.
Wartime Service
Reuben Attested on 11/12/15 in St.Albans ,and was in Army reserve from 12.12.15 until 4.6.16. Initially he was with the Northhampton Regiment and was mobilised on 5 June 1916 from Bedford.
He was posted to France on 7th June 1916 as a Private 25550.
He transferred to the Yorkshire and Lancaster Regiment,( Private number 31827) 2nd Battalion on 29.9.16 and then to the 6th Battalion on 14.10.16
He died of wounds 2nd December 1916.
Additional Information
Jonty Wild, Gareth Hughes
Acknowledgments
Sarah Burns
Gareth Hughes
