Ordinary Seaman Z/6158 Reginald Eyton Griffiths

Reginald Eyton Griffiths was born on the 15^th September 1900 in Liverpool, England¹. On the 7^th October he was baptised at St Chrysostom, Liverpool². At the time of the 1901 census he was living  in Chester Road, Gresford, Wrexham, with his father, Alfred Griffiths, a house decorator, and his mother, Florence Griffiths³.

On the 5^th September 1918 Reginald Eyton Griffiths was enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. At the time of his enlistment he gave his occupation as a colliery clerk. His height is given  as 5’6½’’, and his eye colour as being blue. His active service commenced on the 16^th September 1918, just one day after his eighteenth birthday. On the 5^th October 1918, a mere month after he had enlisted, he died of pneumonia at Croydon Hospital¹.

At the time of Reginald Eyton Griffith’s death, his mother, Florence Griffiths was living at The Warren, Gresford. His father was already deceased⁴.

On 9^th October 1918, Reginald Eyton Griffiths was buried in the churchyard of All Saints, Gresford, Wrexham in a service conducted by Rev. J.E. Williams⁵

On Saturday 12^th October 1918, the death and funeral of Reginald Eyton Griffiths was covered in The Wrexham Advertiser and North Wales News. The article read,

“Death of Mr Reginald E Griffiths, Gresford.

The death has occurred of Mr Reginald Griffiths, only son of Mrs Griffiths and the late A.C. Griffiths, of Gresford. The deceased, who was a clerk at the Gresford Colliery, joined the Royal Navy a few weeks ago, being in training at the Crystal Palace, where he contracted a chill, which developed into pneumonia, ending fatally on Friday last on the eve of his 18^th birthday. The body was brought to Gresford for interment in the parish churchyard. The burial service was conducted by the Vicar and Curate. Mr E.J. Cunnah F.R.C.O presided at the organ, the service being choral, and was largely attended. Four members of the choir bore the body to the resting place. Regie Griffiths, as he was popularly known, was held in high esteem, being a member of the church choir, and assistant scoutmaster. Last year he was awarded the silver medal for the best scout in the Gresford unit⁶.”

---

Great War Graves at All Saints, Gresford

Gresford War Memorial

Sources:

1. The Public Record Office, Service record for Reginald Eyton Griffiths, Service Number: Z/6158, RNVR Division: Mersey, Date September 1918, Catalogue reference, ADM 337/61, Dept.: Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies, Series Admiralty: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve: Records of Service, First World War, Piece, Z6001-Z6313, Kew, London
2. Liverpool Record Office, Liverpool Registers, 283 CHY/2/3
3. The Public Record Office, Census Returns for England and Wales 1901, Class RG13, Piece 5215, Folio 102, page 3, Kew, London.
4. Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Commonwealth War Graves Debt of Honour entry for Reginald Eyton Griffiths, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, [Online] http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=671246
5. Gresford Burials 1887 – 1944, Entry for Reginald Eyton Griffiths, number 912, page 114, Gresford Parish Registers volume 29 (microfilm), Reference PD/34/1/563, Wrexham Museum & Archives, Wrexham.
6. The Wrexham Advertiser and North Wales News, Saturday 12th October 1918, Wrexham Museum & Archives, Wrexham.
7. Reginald Eyton Griffith’s gravestone, churchyard, All Saints, Gresford.
8. Grave photograph GRIFFITHS, R. E. by Stan Murphy Findagrave.com