Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
Reginald Raymond (Reggie) Truelove was born on the 26th of April 1895 in Steeplehurst (Staplehurst) in Horley, Surrey.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at Broomfield Cottages, Westcott, Dorking Rural, Surrey. Henry was working as an agricultural labourer and Clara was looking after her children: carter on a farm Harry, agricultural labourer Frederick Wiliam, agricultural labourer John Francis, George, Charlotte Annie (Hannah), Reggie and Elsie Maud.
On the 10th of November 1903, Reggie Truelove was admitted into the St Martin´s Church of England School for boys in Dorking. At the time of his admission, Reginald lived at 20 St Martin´s Place, Dorking. The previous school he attended was in Brockham.
On the 20th of June 1905, Reggie Truelove was readmitted into the St Martin´s Church of England School in Dorking. At the time of his readmission, the family lived at 8 Church Gardens in Dorking. He left the school on the 7th of April 1909.
George and Reggie´s father Henry Truelove died in the 3rd quarter of 1908 in the Registration District of Dorking. He was 55 years old. He was burried on the 3rd of October 1908 at the Dorking Municipal Cemetery.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at 12 Ansell Road in Dorking, Surrey. The family was lead by labourer Harry Truelove. The household further comprised of Harry´s widowed mother Clara and her children: unemployed Charlotte Annie (Hannah), grocer boy Reggie, Elsie Maud and a boarder Flor Parkhurst. Clara stated, that she had given birth to ten children of whom eight were still alive. The accomodation had five rooms.
The 1913 Surrey, England, Electoral Register reads, that Harry Truelove lived at 12 Ansell Road in Dorking.
The 1914 Surrey, England, Electoral Register reads, that Harry Truelove lived at 66 Dene Street in Dorking.
Reggie Truelove enlisted in March 1915 into the 4th Battalion, the Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, the Duke of Albany´s) in Bedford, Bedfordshire. He was a Private and his regimental number was 3021. Later, he became a Lance Corporal. Before his enlistment he was working at the Dorking International Stores and was very popular and much liked by all who knew him.
Reggie disembarked on the 21st of August 1915 to France.
The 1915 Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser reads, that Reggie Truelove: “has been wounded in the back and is being treated in one of the military hospitals in France.“
He was killed in action on the 7th of November 1916 in France.
His body was never recovered. He is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial in France on Pier 8 and Face 15C.
The Dorking and Leatherhed Advertiser, dated the 2nd of December 1916 reads, that Lieutenant P. A. Harrop, Reggie´s machine gun officer, stated, that Lance Corporal Truelove was killed whilst on duty with his gun on the front a day or so prior to the recent attack. “ He was hit by a shell and death was instantaneous. His section miss him immensely, for he was a great favorite and as his officer I know that I have lost one of my cheerest and most competent gunners.“
Reggie was awarded the British War and Victory medals and the 1915 Star.
Reggie Truelove left to his mother Clara £4, 19s and 1d on the 27th of March 1917 and a further £8 on the 26th of October 1919 in Soldier´s Effects.
| Born | Steeplehurst, Surrey | |
| Lived | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Son of | Henry and Clara Truelove of 17 Dene Street, Dorking | |
| Brother of | George Truelove | |
| Regiment | 4th Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders | |
| Number | 3021 | |
| Date of Death | 7th November 1916 | |
| Place of Death | Somme, France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 20 | |
| Memorial | Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France |
