Born in 1895 at Woodford, the eldest son of Fred (Master Carpenter) and Hannah Sheppard. 1901: Living with his family at Landscape House Horn Lane. 1911: Now a Carpenter he was still living with his family at Landscape House. The family home was later recorded as “Wisteria” Horn Lane. A member of the Woodford Green Crusaders Club, he had just been received into membership of the Woodford Union Church.
He enlisted at Stratford, and had been in France for some 5 weeks when 10 Essex was involved in the attack by 53 Infantry Brigade on Delville Wood on 19/20 July 1916. The fighting was intense with severe casualties, and the troops failed to capture the Wood. 10 Essex suffered 539 casualties, about half its strength before withdrawing on 20th July. Initially reported as “Missing”, Reginald Sheppard was Killed in Action during the second day of this battle.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Essex Regiment in the Great War