Reginald John Ivall (1881-1966), Bucks Volunteer

Reginald John Ivall was a grandson of Robert Thomas Ivall (1812 - 1865), the elder brother of David Ivall (1816 - 1867), my great great grandfather. According to his nephew John Ivall, Reginald was known as “Darkie” (not very PC !) because of his tanned skin.

Reginald was born on January 9th 1881 in the village of Chalvey near Slough, in Buckinghamshire. He was the eighth child of Thomas Ivall (1837 - 1908) and Lucy Ivall nee Hobden (1845 - 1929). Thomas and Lucy had a total of 16 children, 13 of which survived into adulthood, the last child being born in 1892. Thomas ran the Chalvey village bakery.

The 1881 census shows Thomas Ivall (aged 44, a master baker), Lucy (34), Walter (12), Annie Lucy (7), Harry Alfred (5), Catherine Dora (3), Percy Bertram (1) and Reginald (2 months) living at 1 Jordan Place Bakers Shop, Chalvey, Buckinghamshire.

In 1891 there was Thomas Ivall (aged 53, a baker), Lucy (43), Walter (22, an assistant schoolmaster), Annie (17), Harry (15, a baker), Catherine (13), Percy (11), Reginald (10), Charles (8), Margaret (8), Gilbert (6), Jane (4) and Philip (9 months) living at Church Street, 6 Jordan Place, Chalvey.

The Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer in February and December 1892 lists Reginald as one of the children who took part in school concerts. In March 1896, the newspaper had the following item :

SUNDAY AFTERNOON’S AMUSEMENT – George Werrell, Harry Axsell, Reginald Ivall and Henry Higgins, youths, of Chalvey, were summoned for playing hockey on the highway at Chalvey on March 15^th. Defendants pleaded not guilty. Police constable Young said that on Sunday March 15^th he was on duty on the road leading from Ledger’s Lane to Salt Hill, when he saw the four defendants playing hockey. They were knocking a piece of wood with their sticks. There were six playing altogether, but the other two ran away and he did not know their names. He had had a complaint from Mr Giles of Slough, as to the defendants frightening the pony that he was driving. Defendants were a source of annoyance to passers-by. Defendants, who denied that they were playing, were fined 1s each.

1s in 1896 is equivalent to about £27 in 2023.

Reginald was in the Slough Company, 1^st Bucks Rifle Volunteers. The results of a shooting competition were published in June 1899. Private R Ivall came 8^th out of 9 participants.

The Boer War began in 1899. Reginald’s elder brother Percy, who was in the Scots Guards, was sent there in December 1899. The 1^st Bucks Rifle Volunteers were asked to provide approximately 60 men to join an active service volunteer company to be attached to the 1^st Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry. Reginald volunteered. His attestation form was completed in January 1900. It gives his age as 20 (he was actually 19)and previous occupation as blacksmith. He was 5 foot 10 inches, weight 159 lbs. He was sent to South Africa in March 1900, served there until May 1901, when he returned to the UK and was discharged. 

By the time his unit arrived in South Africa, the main Boer field army had been defeated. However the war continued as a guerrilla conflict waged by Boer commandos until a peace treaty was signed in May 1902. Private R J Ivall’s Regimental number was 7237 and he was awarded the Queen’s South Africa medal with 3 clasps (Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal). The National Archives at Kew have the medal roll for the Volunteer Service Company that Reginald was in. It contained a Captain, 2 Lieutenants, 1 Colour Sergeant, 4 Sergeants, 5 Corporals, 2 Buglers and 103 Privates. Of the 117 total, 2 are listed as deceased and 9 as invalided home. Soldiers who fought in the Boer War received a gratuity of £5 (equivalent to about £2,500 in 2023) on their return. Reginald’s name appears on the Boer War Memorial, Market Square, Aylesbury, together with those of the other 1^st Bucks Volunteers who served. There was also a memorial unveiled in Slough (see below)

From Bucks Herald, 21 July 1900

Reginald played football for Slough FC. He was also selected to play for the Berks and Bucks team that played against Middlesex on 27 December 1905.

On 22^nd May 1907, Reginald (then aged 26 and an engineer) married Ellen Sophia Holdway (aged 27, a daughter of a publican) at St Mary’s, Chalvey. The witnesses were Reginald’s sister Margaret Olive Ivall and Edwin Alexander Collins (who married another of his sisters, Katherine Dora Ivall, in 1913). Reginald and Ellen had 8 children namely Lucy Margaret (1908-2006), Robert (1909-87), Harry (1912-83), Nellie (1913-2001), Winnie (b1916), George (1918-96), Ethel (b1920) and Reginald (1923-88).

The 1911 census shows Reginald aged 30, an engineer and fitter in a foundry (iron works), living at 8 Grove View, Chalvey Green, Slough with his wife Ellen (aged 31) and their children Lucy (3) and Robert (1). Electoral registers from 1910 to 1915 show him at this address.

According to his niece Katherine Hewett nee Ivall, Reginald had a  reputation for being the strongest man in Slough.

The census in 1921 records Reginald (aged 40), Ellen (41), Lucy (13), Robert (11), Harry (9), Nellie (7), Winnie (5), George (3) and Ethel (10 months) Ivall living in 5 rooms at 8 Grove View. Reginald worked as a riveter at G D Peters Ltd, Windsor Works, Slough. The company were manufacturers of braking systems for railway locomotives, carriages and trucks.

The marriage certificates of Reginald’s children describe his occupation in various ways. In 1930 he was a riveter, in 1936 an electrical engineer, in 1943 a fire watcher and in 1949, a labourer (retired).

The 1929 to 1931 electoral registers list Reginald and Ellen at “Rosemead”, Chalvey Grove. His children’s marriage certificates give the family address in 1936 to 1949 as 161 Chalvey Grove.

The 1939 national register lists Reginald (a watchman) and Ellen (a housewife) living at 161 Chalvey Grove with their children Robert (a bricklayer) and Harry (a labourer).

Ellen died in 1965 and Reginald in 1966, both aged 85, both in the Eton registration district (which includes Chalvey).  Reginald was buried in Slough Cemetery (plot 4930 in area C1). The grave seems to be unmarked. His probate record reads “Reginald John Ivall of 159 Chalvey Grove, Slough d 30 Jun 1966. Administration  to Lucy Margaret Garlick, married woman and Robert Ivall, bricklayer. Estate £6201.” (Lucy was Reginald’s eldest daughter, who married Charles Garlick, Robert was Reginald's eldest son)