Reginald George ”Reg” Vigars was born on 4th July 1899 at Effingham Junction in the parish of East Horsley near Guildford, Surrey. He became an Articled Clerk at Eversheds (Accountants) in High Street Guildford for which he earned 2/6 per week. However, he volunteered for the army in Guildford on 8th August 1918. He was 5ft 9.25in tall, weighed 124 (pounds) and had a 32 (inch) chest. He was placed in the 23rd Training Reserve Battalion and eventually joined the 25th Battalion the King's (Liverpool Regiment). He was Private No.108219 and died on 8th October 1918, just a month before World War I ended on 11th November. According to his battalion’s War Diary for 8th October: 1 O.R. (other rank) reported wounded 5-9-18 dies of wounds. If this refers to Reg, this was on a day when his battalion moved forward to the front to relieve the "West Ridings". In the ensuing action "B Co(mpan)y attempting to come to A Company’s aid met with heavy hostil M(achine) G(un) fire and sustained heavy casualities … 30 other ranks wounded." He was buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France. After he was ****ed his mother received 6/1d per week for her loss. Reginald had previously told his mother, “I'll pay you back for everything.” His mother remembered this and said “Little did I realise that he would pay me back with his life.” Reginald had a girlfriend called Stella Mary Jarrad (b.1902) after his death she married, but not until 1925.

Tony Vigars