Born 27/11/1919 in New Dayton, AB., he was adopted son of William James Reeve and Grace Graham Etta ( nee Johnstone) Reeve, of 89 Prince St., Chatham, Ontario. An orphan originally his father was Eldon Cropley; he was adopted by William and Grace, likely at a vey young age and before coming to Chatham had been living in New Dayton, Alberta where he received his public education. After coming to Chatham he attended Chatham Collegiate Institute and Chatham Vocational Scholl before being employed at the American Pad & Textile in the city. There is border crossing papers indicating that he crossed over from Detroit 19/09/1937 at the age of 17years.

William enlisted in the First Kent Regt. in July of 1940, transferring to the Highland Light Infantry of Canada with which he went overseas in April of 1942. Pte. Reeve was one of the first Canadians to land in France on D-Day and according to letter received by his mother he had been in the thick of the fighting since that day.

Age: 24, KIA – Date of Death: 08/07/1944, in France.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	Index of Overseas Deaths,, IODE(P), VR(P),CCI-RH. CDN 20/07/44, CDN 31/07/44,, information from Alberta Crow (BK4A –Black Books (Kent OGS).
Supplemental Information	Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: XII. D. 12. Cemetery: BENY-SUR-MER CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, REVIERS.

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