Harry Victor Reed

Story:
Harry Victor Reed was born in Ludwell, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, on 23 May 1896 and baptised at the Birdbush Baptist Chapel, Ludwell, on 2 Jun 1897 the son of Henry Reed (who died in 1901) and Anna Maria Reed (nee Scammell) (who died in 1896).  Harry lived with his grandmother, Jane Reed, in Ludwell for most of his early life.   He enlisted on 12 Aug 1913 and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private rising in time to Corporal (Service No. 9034).  He served in France and Flanders from 14 Aug 1914 where he was wounded and eventually discharged as being unfit for further duty on 30 Nov 1918.  He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. B62309 and the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.   He had married Elsie Violet Toogood at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 17 Jan 1918.   The 1921 Census shows him living at Bembury Cottage, Thurford, Sherborne, Dorset, working as a Builder's Labourer. By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 179 Walton Road, Woking, Surrey, now working as a Millwright Labourer for Vickers Aviation.   He died in St. Peters Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey, on 7 Jan 1966.