Heslop’s Local Advertiser 24/08/1917

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

George Miles Reed was born at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham in 1882, the youngest of 5 known children, 4 sons and a daughter born to Mary surname Reed by marriage, born 1831 at Felling. Widowed, she had remarried by 1891 to Anthony Kelly, a seaman, born at Whitby, Yorkshire, in 1841 and ten years her junior. They were living at 21, Simpson’s Buildings, Felling Shore, with her children John Reed (37) a cooper, Mark Hill Reed (24) a fitter’s labourer and George (9) a scholar. Next door at Todd’s Cottage lived the Blaylock family, Margaret Nevison Reed would later marry their son Thomas. After the death of their mother and step-father George lived with them and their 2 children in 2 rooms at Ballast Hill, Felling Shore.

George Miles Reed left his employment as a bricklayer to enlist at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, assigned to the Army Service Corps as DM2/169440. He was mobilised and departed with the British Mesopotamian Force where he joined the 596th Mechanical Transport Coy as a driver, attached to the only British formation in the area, the 13th (Western) Division which had arrived in 1916 from Gallipoli.

The Army Service Corp where the unsung heroes of the British Army during the Great War. Soldiers cannot fight without food, equipment and ammunition and they cannot move without horses and vehicles. It was the job of the A.S.C. to provide them all and the vast majority of supply on many fronts was supplied from Britain using horsed and motor vehicles, railways and waterways. The Army Service Corp performed great feats of logistics and were one of the strengths by which the war was won.

Private DM2/169440 George Miles Reed died July 15th 1917, cause unspecified, and interred at Basra War Cemetery, Mesopotamia, modern day Iraq, grave IV. F. 8. He was 35 years old and single.

All monies due to him were divided between his brother William Reed resident at South Street, Felling and sister Margaret Nevison Blaylock resident at Felling Shore. The estate of George Miles Reed of 10 South Street, Felling, Gateshead in the sum of 165 pounds 1 shilling 1 pence was awarded to his brother engine fitter William Reed, May 8th 1917, Administration Durham.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Heslop’s Local Advertiser 24/08/1917 carries a notice which reads:

“Private Geo. Miles Reed, A.S.C.M.T., died at Basra, Mesopotamia, July 15th, aged 35 years. Brother of Wm. Reed, South Street, Felling and Mrs. T. Blaylock, Felling Shore.”

George Miles Reed can not be identified on a local War Memorial.
The CWGC entry for Private Reed