Before joining the army in March 1916 Reginald Rouse was employed on the Birmingham Tramways. His mother received the following: “It is with the very greatest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son. As you probably know, he had been my batman for some months and a more willing helper or a truer friend would be impossible for anyone to have. We had been together through some of the worst times and some of the best and throughout he always maintained his cheerful disposition and could always laugh under the most trying circumstances. I happened to be talking to him when he was hit and he fell where he stood and never moved again. It is a great consolation to know that he did not suffer any pain as so many of the poor fellows do. I obtained permission to have his body carried out of the line and our padre buried him in a proper churchyard, quite close to our transport lines.”

Malvern News 8/6/18