Reginald was born on 24th January 1896 to parents George and Kate in Stockbridge, Hampshire and baptised on 13th February 1896 at Broughton, Hampshire. He was their eldest son on the 1901 census, his younger brother Alfred three years younger than him. The family lived on the High Street of Stockbridge where Kate worked as a Newsagent to support her boys. Her husband was not listed with them at the time.
By the 1911 census the Ventham family had grown and had moved to 22 Garfield Road, Portsmouth. Reginald was then aged fifteen, worked as a gardener’s nurseryman and was the eldest of six boys to George and Kate.
Reginald didn't actually join the Navy when hostilities arose. He instead offered his services to the N.A.C.B (Navy and Army Canteen Board) and was posted to HMS VANGUARD, date unknown but prior to the Battle of Jutland, as he was aboard during the sea conflict and saw “much service on patrol duties in the North Sea”.
He was just 21 years old when he died - he was entitled to the General Service, Victory, Star and British war medals, his pension awarded to his mother.
(#128 - 777/843)
Sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 Free BMD
England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
1901 & 1911 England Census
England, The National Roll of the Great War, 1914-1918
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: 010 (1914 - 1919)
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty and predecessors: Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Service Registers and Registers of Deaths and Injuries. Registers of Reports of Deaths
CWGC Register
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919
TNA Series: ADM 242/10; Scan Number: 0834
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 729/11PP
National Archives ADM 171/133
Photo-P Moseley