Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Reece Gittins was born October 25th 1897 in Escomb near Bishop Auckland, the only son of Abraham Gittins 1857 native of Kelloe and his wife Maria Bolton nee Jaques a widow born 1855 in Eldon, Lanchester. Abraham and Maria were married in early 1897 in the district of Bishop Auckland. His father was a coal hewer and an innkeeper. In 1901 they were living at Woodside, near Escomb and by 1911 had moved to 1, Rowlandson Terrace, Ferryhill, Reece was now 13.
At the time of his enlistment Reece was working at Mainsford Colliery. He enlisted in Ferryhill November 3rd 1914, his record states him as being 19 years 1 month, he had in fact only just turned 17 years of age. Two days later he was posted and on November 12th assigned to the 9th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment as Private 14138, The 9th was a Service Battalion under the orders of the 90th Brigade, 30 Division and in April 1915 became a Reserve Battalion, moving in May to Harrogate. August 17th 1915 Reece was transferred to the 7th Battalion and sent to France as part of the expeditionary force August 27th 1915. The 7th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment was part of the 50th Brigade attached to the 17th Northumbrian Division and during 1915 was deployed holding the lines in the southern area of the Ypres Salient. September 19th he sustained a gunshot wound to the arm and was hospitalised for 5 days returning to his Battalion September 25th 1915. July 1st 1916 saw the beginning of the Battles of the Somme, the 17th Division was involved between July 1st-13th in the Battle of Albert during which they captured Fricourt. August 1916 began with the Battalion undergoing physical training in the vicinity of Dernancourt when they received orders to move to Belle Vue Farm, near Albert where they arrived the following day by march and awaited orders. At 8.30 p. m. August 4th they were marched off to Pommiers near Mametz-Montauban Road arriving at 11.30 p. m. In the morning of August 5th they were involved in making dugouts for protection against enemy artillery fire but the day passed quietly without casualties. Late afternoon they were warned they would probably be moving to the front line, which they did, relieving the 12th Manchester Regiment. August 6th 1916 Private Reece Gittins received multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to the 38th Casualty Clearing Station near Heilly where he died of his wounds August 8th 1916. Private 14138 Reece Gittins, 7th East Yorkshire Regiment is interred at Heilly Station Cemetery, Merricourt-l’Abbe, Somme, France, grave III A. 14. He was 18 years old and unmarried. He was awarded the 14-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
His mother Maria Gittins died 1929 in Sedgefield, his father Abraham in 1938 also in Sedgefield.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Reece Gittins is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12 as R. Gitten and at Ferryhill Station F43.01 as R. Gittens
