Major Robert Edward Reid TD Royal Engineers
Robert Edward Reid
The Man Robert Edward Reid (Bob) was born on Monday 31st October 1921 in Reading, son of Robert Leslie a Shop Fitting Joiner and Alberta Caroline Emily Reid nee Toogood. He had one sister Nancy Ella born in 1913 and the census of the same year shows the family living at 11 Hazel Crescent, Reading.
By the 1930s the family were living at ‘Cloan’, Reading Road, in the Parish of Woodley and Sandford, Newbury and Bob enlisted into the Royal Engineers (RE), Territorial Army (TA) with service number 2072417 during the mid to late 1930s as a Boy entrant. He turned 18 in 1939 just a month after the start of World War II on 3rd September, was mobilised and embedded.
During the War Bob saw service in North Africa, possibly in Crete following the German invasion and was promoted to Sergeant. Following the war, he was awarded his 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and the Efficiency Medal, the latter appearing in List 15 of 1950.
During 1945 he became an Officer Cadet and on 5th August awarded a Regular Army, Emergency Commission in the RE with a new service number of 352543 at the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and promoted to Lieutenant on 15th.
On 26th November 1948, Bob was transferred back into TA RE as Lieutenant and promoted to Captain on 1st June 1951. In 1953 he was awarded the Coronation Medal and on 2nd March 1954 married Maureen Dutton in Surrey, working as an Architectural Draughtsman and living in the Sutton area and having no children.
On 8th October 1956 he was promoted to Major and seconded for service on the Staff and in 1961 awarded his Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ this appearing in the London Gazette of 17th March 1961. On 6th July he transferred from the active list to the TA Reserve of Officers.
Following his retirement, Bob and Maureen moved to Bucknell, Shropshire and he died on 20th August 1999 aged 77 in Herefordshire.
By the 1930s the family were living at ‘Cloan’, Reading Road, in the Parish of Woodley and Sandford, Newbury and Bob enlisted into the Royal Engineers (RE), Territorial Army (TA) with service number 2072417 during the mid to late 1930s as a Boy entrant. He turned 18 in 1939 just a month after the start of World War II on 3rd September, was mobilised and embedded.
During the War Bob saw service in North Africa, possibly in Crete following the German invasion and was promoted to Sergeant. Following the war, he was awarded his 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and the Efficiency Medal, the latter appearing in List 15 of 1950.
During 1945 he became an Officer Cadet and on 5th August awarded a Regular Army, Emergency Commission in the RE with a new service number of 352543 at the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and promoted to Lieutenant on 15th.
On 26th November 1948, Bob was transferred back into TA RE as Lieutenant and promoted to Captain on 1st June 1951. In 1953 he was awarded the Coronation Medal and on 2nd March 1954 married Maureen Dutton in Surrey, working as an Architectural Draughtsman and living in the Sutton area and having no children.
On 8th October 1956 he was promoted to Major and seconded for service on the Staff and in 1961 awarded his Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ this appearing in the London Gazette of 17th March 1961. On 6th July he transferred from the active list to the TA Reserve of Officers.
Following his retirement, Bob and Maureen moved to Bucknell, Shropshire and he died on 20th August 1999 aged 77 in Herefordshire.
1939-45 Star. Africa Star. Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Coronation Medal 1953. Efficiency Decoration 'Territorial'. Efficiency Medal 'Territorial'.
The Story The group of medals awarded to Robert Edward Reid were acquired from E-Bay in June 2020 following an offer made. The group had previously been seen at the Stratford Upon Avon Medal Fair in March and mentally tucked away to buy if it were still on sale at the next fair (post 2020 lockdown).
The interest was in the double long service combination of an Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ and Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ which at that time was not held in this collection.
Unfortunately, due to a quite common name no detail could be confirmed on Ancestry, however, details from the London Gazette and Coronation Medal Roll were available and allowed his service career to be put together.
In May 2026 contact was made by relatives of ‘Bob’s’ who were able to confirm it was the right man as they have his tunic with matching medal ribbons on it. They very kindly provided the information needed to enable a rather more detailed biography to be completed as well as the all-important photograph of Bob as a boy soldier.
The interest was in the double long service combination of an Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ and Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ which at that time was not held in this collection.
Unfortunately, due to a quite common name no detail could be confirmed on Ancestry, however, details from the London Gazette and Coronation Medal Roll were available and allowed his service career to be put together.
In May 2026 contact was made by relatives of ‘Bob’s’ who were able to confirm it was the right man as they have his tunic with matching medal ribbons on it. They very kindly provided the information needed to enable a rather more detailed biography to be completed as well as the all-important photograph of Bob as a boy soldier.
Bob Reid circa 1921
Robert Edward Reid's marriage to Maureen Dutton. 2nd March 1954.
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Bob as a Boy Soldier circa 1938.
Bob Reid in later life
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Major R E Reid's uniform showing clearly his medal ribbons.
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Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Africa Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Coronation Medal 1953: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Decoration: 1961
- Efficiency Medal: 2072417. SJT. R.E.REID. R.E.
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This page last updated 4 Jun 26
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