More about Henry Edward Reeves

Harry Edward Reeves   82152   Royal Air Force

REVOLVER ACCIDENT AT DUNDEE.

YOUNG MAN SHOT.

Late on Saturday night an unfortunate revolver accident took place in Dundee, Harry Reeves, mechanic at Dundee Air Station, being shot through the heart by a companion named Patrick George, also a member of the Air Force.  The two young men were standing at the top of Reform Street in the company of a young women, and it is understood that George produced a small revolver, and in a playful manner presented it at the young women.  He pulled the trigger twice without any result, but on the third occasion, when he presented the weapon at Reeves, there was a loud report and a tragic sequel.  Reeves dropped on the pavement, and never spoke again.  The alarm was raised, and Reeves was conveyed to the infirmary, but died before reaching that institution.  It was ascertained that only one chamber of the revolver was loaded, and still he believed that it was the fourth that held the cartridge, whereas it was the third chamber.  George is only eighteen years of age, and belongs to London, where Reeves also hails from.  The two lads were on terms of great friendliness.  Both served in the Air Force in Russia, and arrived in Dundee in November last.

Montrose Review  26th March 1920

THE DUNDEE SHOOTING TRAGEDY.

VICTIM TO BE BURIED TO-DAY.

Frederick Arthur George, the young air mechanic who is at present under arrest in connection with the shooting tragedy which occurred in Dundee on Saturday night appeared before Sheriff Neish yesterday when he emitted a declaration.

The charge preferred against George was on somewhat similar lines to that which was preferred against him when he was remitted from the Police Court on Monday morning.

The funeral of the victim of the tragedy, Harry Edward Reeves, aeroplane fitter, Craigie Avenue, is to take place to-day from the Mortuary in Constitution Road to the Eastern Cemetery.

Dundee Courier 24th March 1920

BURIED WITH SERVICE HONOURS.

Funeral Of Victim Of Dundee Tragedy.

Harry Edward Reeves, the victim of the shooting tragedy in Dundee, who was buried with service honours yesterday.  A detachment of Reeves’ comrades of the Royal Air Force from the seaplane station at the Stannergate attended the funeral, while the presence of the sorrowing parents of the unfortunate lad created feelings of deepest sympathy amongst the large crowd in Bell Street.

After the service at the mortuary, conducted by Rev. Canon Malcolm, St Patrick’s Church, the coffin was borne by Reeves’ comrades to a carriage, which was drawn by a motor tender.  It was then draped with the Union Jack with two wreaths alongside, and as the cortege moved off to Reeves’ last resting-place in the Eastern Cemetery the scene was touchingly impressive.

Dundee Courier 25th March 1920

SEQUEL TO DUNDEE SHOOTING AFFAIR.

CHARGE AGAINST AIR CRAFTSMAN FOUND NOT PROVEN.

Although the jury yesterday gave a verdict of not proven against Frederick Arthur George in connection with the Reform Street tragedy in Dundee, they strongly deprecated the carrying of the revolver, the weapon around the story of the tragic affair of 20th March was woven.

Before Sheriff Neish and the jury, George, an air craftsman (second class), R.A.F., lately at the Air Force Station, Dundee, and now stationed at the R.A.F. Depot at Inverkeithing, pleaded not guilty to having assaulted Harry Edward Reeves, air craftsman (second class), of the Dundee Station, and discharged a loaded revolver at him, causing injuries from which he immediately died.

Evidence for the prosecution showed that George, Reeves, and a young woman, were standing together in Reform Street when George took out the revolver and said to his comrade, “Would you like to be shot, Reeves?” and the latter replied, “Come on, then—do it.”  George said, “It is loaded. Count one, two, three.  It is loaded in the fourth.”  He then held the revolver quite close to Reeves, and as they counted three the revolver went off, and Reeves fell to the ground.  He died on the way to the Royal Infirmary.

George stated in the witness-box that in response to a request by Reeves he gave his friend the revolver, remarking that it was loaded.  As he exposed it openly to the view of anybody passing, he took it away from him forcibly and put it back in his left-hand pocket.  As he usually carried it in his right, he took it out again to place it in his right-hand pocket.

As he was doing so Reeves remarked “Go on—shoot me,” or something to that effect. There was a slight struggle for possession of it, and during that time it went off.  He denied pointing the revolver at Reeves.  The revolver was given to him by a member of the Russian Expeditionary Force, who also gave him the ammunition.

The jury’s verdict was unanimous.

Dundee Courier 11th May 1920