Henry Gilmore Andrews

Henry was the fifth and youngest child of Joseph and Isabella Andrews. He was born September 11,1917 in the family home on Mill St. in Milton. His four older siblings were apparently thrilled to have a new young brother in the family, and he immediately became the “apple of everyone’s eye”. His older brother Joe Jr., who had been especially thrilled to have another boy in the family, died suddenly from the Spanish or Asiatic flu on December 10, 1918 when Henry was just over a year of age. His mother, Isabella, died suddenly from pneumonia on April 27, 1928 when Henry was just over 2 ½ years old. Hazel, the eldest daughter in the family, immediately assumed full responsibility for his care from that point onward. His father Joe Sr. died suddenly on November 28, 1928 when Henry was 11 years old. Ethel and Isabel had left home in the September before their father died, to enter Nurses Training at Guelph General Hospital, so it was only Hazel and Henry living at home when their father died. Hazel continued to raise Henry on her own until he came of age and could support himself.

Henry attended Bruce Street Public School in Milton and later Milton High School. On November 11, 1939, he married Gwen Hayward at Grace Anglican Church, on the marriage certificate listing his occupation as butcher. On November 1,1939 Hazel sold the family home to Henry for $1. Henry and Gwen continued to live there until the house was sold September 5, 1944, their first son Bruce having been born there on July 5, 1941.

It was during this time when Bruce was still a baby that Henry was sent overseas and served with the 1st Hussars during the Second World War.

Henry was bothered by stomach problems and had some surgeries for ulcers, with one of the surgeries occurring while he was overseas. Recoveries in those days were so much longer than recoveries of today and pain control was not nearly as good and so it took Henry awhile to recover. After returning home to Milton and selling the house on Mill St., Henry and Gwen moved to 205 Mason Blvd. in Acton where their second son Keith was born in 1946 and third son Bob was born in 1951. Henry was now working at A.V. Roe Plant in Malton and it was while at work there, that he suddenly died of a heart attack on the morning of July 10, 1956.

Henry was buried in Acton’s Fairview Cemetery on Thursday July 12, 1956.

Truly a Canadian Hero. His story lives on. Submitted to Homes of Heroes Halton Hills by Keith Andrews

---