Reeves Charles Brittain
Private, U.S. Army
Service Number: 42081126
Unit: 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division
Entered the service from: New Jersey
Died: October 13, 1944
Buried at: Section 13, Row 5, Grave 4, Berlin Cemetery, Berlin, NJ
Awards: Purple Heart
Private Reeves Charles Brittain was born at home on Pennington Avenue in Atco, Waterford Township, NJ, on September 1, 1908. His parents were Reeves Alexander and Ida Boogar Brittain. His father, originally from Valley Forge, PA, was a veteran of the Spanish-American War as a private in Company D, 6th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, and worked as a telegrapher and later as station master for the steam railroad that ran through Atco, also owning a coal yard in town. His mother was a direct descendant of the Mayflower through Richard Warren, William Brewster, and Francis Cooke and son John Cooke. Reeves Charles Brittain was the third of eight children.
After attending public school in Atco, Reeves C. Brittain attended Haddon Heights High School and graduated from Hammonton High School. In 1930 he worked as a truck driver in his father’s coal yard. He later went into farming and owned a farm on Chew Road. He married his high school sweetheart, Clara Slack, sometime after the April 1930 census. His brother Clayton Brittain passed away on August 24, 1942. By the time Reeves was drafted, he had remarried, to Ann La Noir. They made their home at 123 Atco Avenue in Atco, Waterford Township, NJ.
Private Reeves C. Brittain was called up on December 13, 1943. After basic training he was sent overseas as an infantry replacement, first to Italy and then to a replacement depot in France. It was here that he was assigned to the 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. Private Brittain was killed in action on October 13, 1944, near Gransvillar, France, just a few days after having seen his first action. He was 36 years old. Another Atco resident serving in the 45th Infantry Division, Major James Pitman, would be killed in action on December 18, 1944. News of his death was reported in the February 4, 1944 edition of the Camden Courier-Post. He was survived by his wife, Ann Brittain, his parents, and his surviving siblings.
Reeves C. Brittain was brought home and buried at Berlin Cemetery on May 19, 1948. He is memorialized at the War Memorial at American Legion Post 311 in Atco, NJ.
Source: American Battle Monuments Commission
Pvt. R. A. Brittain Jr. Funeral Tomorrow
Camden Courier-Post —
Pvt. R. A. Brittain Jr. Funeral Tomorrow
Services for Pvt. Reeves A. Brittain Jr., will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the funeral home at Rich and Central avenues, Berlin. Full military honors will be accorded by Waterford Township American Legion post, 311. Burial will be in Berlin cemetery.
Private Brittain was killed in action at Gransvillar, France, Oct. 13, 1944 — just a few days after he had seen his first action. He was 36. He reenlisted in the Army reserves, Dec. 13, 1943, and went overseas in July, 1944. He was sent to a replacement pool in Italy and later to France.
Born in Waterford, he was educated in the public schools there and attended Hammonton High school. Following his graduation, he entered business with his father, a coal dealer.
He is survived by his widow, Anna, Atco avenue, Atco; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Reeves A. Sr., Waterford; three sisters, Mrs. Bessie B. Halteman, Merchantville, Mrs. Ida Wells, Cedarbrook, and Mrs. Anna Smith, Berlin; two brothers, Royal, Ashland, and Marion, Waterford.