Mar 22, 1890

Born in Greenock, Scotland

Mar 9, 1916

Attested into the 156^th Battalion in Brockville, Ontario 

Ø      Number 639846

Ø      Next of kin given as Nellie Gillies, sister, Greenock, Scotland

Ø      Previous occupation given as Farmer

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Presbyterian

Oct 19, 1916

Embarked the SS Northland in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Oct 28, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to Witley where he was transferred to the 124^th Battalion to continue his training

Jan 1, 1917

Transferred back to the 156^th Reserve Battalion in Witley

Apr 25, 1917

Sentenced to 4 days Field Punishment No. 2.  The offence that prompted this punishment is not recorded in the file

May 23, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

May 24, 1917

Arrived at No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France and was TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Jun 10, 1917

Left the CIBD to join the battalion

Jun 11, 1917

Joined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Coupigny, France carrying out training exercises

Nov 3, 1917

On this date the 21^st Battalion moved into the front line in Passchendaele and almost immediately the Germans mounted an attack.  Private Gillies was killed in that attack.  He was initially buried in a location marked as Sheet 28.D.17.b.1.8. 

When the war ended and an attempt was made to relocate the battlefield burials into organized cemeteries, his remains could not be located.  This was most likely a result the continuous shelling for the remainder of the war.  As a result of having no known grave, he is commemorated on the walls of the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium

Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his sister, Miss Helen Gillies, 58 Ann St., Greenock, Scotland. 

No Memorial Cross was issued