Frederick James Gilmer

Frederick was the son of Samuel Gilmer and Hattie Peters and a native of Georgetown. Fred was born on April 7, 1899 and attended both public and high school in Georgetown.

According to his obituary, when war broke out Fred was one of the youngest from town to enlist. His enlistment papers indicate that he was single, of the Presbyterian faith and was employed as a clerk. His military file indicates that he served 13 months in France with the 9th Overseas Draft Squadron the Royal Canadian Dragoons, with an assigned monthly pay of $20.

Upon his discharge on July 11, 1919 he reported that his proposed residence was to be Georgetown. Fred’s marriage registration of 1921 records that he married Jennie Smith of Glen Williams and the 1931 Canadian Census shows that he had a 9 year old son George and a 2 year old son Harry, he was renting a home next door to his widowed mother and 29 year old brother on Edith St and he was employed as a foreman at the porcelain works earning $950 per year. H

is obituary indicates that at the time of his death he was living at 31 Edith St., he was one of the original employees of Smith & Stone and was the foreman of the punch press department for many years. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, a member of the Smith & Stone 35 year Club and a member of Legion Branch 120. He was a skilled dart player and held many trophies in Legion competition. At one time he was a member of the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Department.

Fred died on July 22, 1957 at the age of 58 and he is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Georgetown.

Truly a Canadian Hero. His story lives on. Information obtained from the Georgetown Herald July 1957 and Ancestry.ca

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