Private Reginald Geoffrey Pole

Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.

Reginald Geoffrey Pole was born on 12^th June 1888 in Dorking to schoolmaster and priest Edward Augustus and Rachel Elizabeth Dean (nee Fairless). He was baptised on 1^st July 1888 at St Martin’s church in Dorking. At the time of their marriage the couple lived in Rose Hill, Dorking.

At the time of the 1891 Census, two year old Reginald was staying at the household of auctioneer’s clerk Walter J. White at Westcott Road, Westcott. The household further comprised of Mr White’s family and a servant.

At the time of the 1901 Census, Reginald lived with his adoptive father, auctioneer’s clerk, Walter at 3 Victoria Terrace, Dorking. The household further comprised of Mr White’s new wife Ellen, his children and a servant. Ellen.

Reginald married Harriett E. Jones in the 3^rd quarter of 1915 in Prestwich, Lancashire.

Reginald enlisted in Manchester into the 23^rd Battalion, the Manchester Regiment. He was a Private with regimental numbers 22838 and 24123. At the time of his enlistment he resided in Manchester. Later he was transferred into the 11^th Battalion, the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was a Private with regimental number 240980.

At the time of his death he was part of the 2^nd Battalion, the Bedfordshire Regiment. His regimental number remained 240980.

Reginald died in an action on or since 22^nd March 1918 in France.

He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France on Panels 28 and 29.

Harriett Pole received £21, 1s and 11d on 11^th December 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.

Reginald’s father Edward Augustus Pole died in 1951 in Leeds. He was 90 years old.

Pole Family History

Reginald’s father Edward Augustus Pole was born about 1861 in Devon, Plymouth to military officer George Henry Law Pole of Plymouth. On 26^th January 1878 Edward matriculated from Oxford University. His mother Rachel Elizabeth Dean Fairless was born about 1852 in Crieff, Perth in Scotland to Doctor of medicine at St Andrew’s university and a member of The Royal College of Surgeons William Dean Fairless, born about 1823 in Hexham, Northumberland and Christine Douglas Fairless nee White, born about 1827 in Edinburgh. At the time of the 1861 Census, William was a medical officer in charge of the Montrose Lunatic Asylum where he and his family lived. Edward and Rachel married on 28^th June 1881 at St Giles’ Church in Oxford. At the time of their marriage Edward lived at 45 St Giles’ in Oxford. Rachel lived at 18, Crescent Road, Oxford.

Reginald had seven known siblings: Rachel Mary born about 1882 in York; Alice A. born about 1884 in Hampstead; George Edward born about 1886 in Norwood, Surrey; Rose Beatrice born about 1887 in Dorking; Adele Vera born about 1891; Brenda Kate born about 1893 and Lorna Sybil born about 1895, all in Alvescot, Oxfordshire.

At the time of the 1891 Census, Reginald’s family lived at Mill Lane, Alvescot, Oxfordshire. Edward was a schoolmaster and Rachel was at home. The household further comprised of their children: Rachel, George, Rose, Adele and a servant.

At the time of the 1901 Census, Reginald’s family lived at 20 Chatsworth Square, Carlisle, Cumberland. Edward was a Church of England priest and Rachel was at home. The household further comprised of their children: Rachel, Alice, George, Rose, Adele, Brenda, Lorna and a servant.

At the time of the 1911 Census, Reginald’s family lived at 90 Aglionby, Carlisle. Edward was a clerk in Holy Orders and Rachel was at home. The household further comprised of their children: sick nurse Rachel, bank clerk George, Brenda and Lorna. Rachel stated that she had given birth to nine children of whom seven were alive. The accommodation had ten rooms.

Born	Dorking, Surrey
Lived	Manchester
Son of	Edward Augustus and Rachel Elizabeth Dean Pole (nee Fairless)
Husband of	Harriett E. Pole
Regiment	2nd Battalion. Bedfordshire Regiment
Number	240980
Date of Death	22nd March 1918
Place of Death	Somme, France
Cause of Death	Killed in action
Age	29
Memorial	Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France.