Aug 10, 1893

Born in Pensistone, Yorkshire, England

May 2, 1913

Embarked the SS Empress of Britain in Liverpool

May 9, 1913

Disembarked in Quebec City, Quebec and proceeded to Montreal, Quebec to join his brother Jack Walker Gilpin

Nov 9, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59364 (temporary number 871)

Ø  Next of kin given as Lucy A Gilpin, 6 Talbot St., Penistone, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Clerk

o   Later noted as Book Keeper

Ø  Previous military experience given as 43^rd Regiment Duke of Cornwall’s Own Rifles in Ottawa

Ø  Religion given as Methodist

Ø  Posted to “H” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “D” Company

The 21^st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Sep 28, 1916

During and attack on Regina Trench north of Courcelette, France, Private Gilpin received severe shrapnel wounds to his back, legs and side.  He was evacuated to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid

Sep 29, 1916

Transported to the No. 49 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) before being transferred to the Canadian Special Hospital at Warloy

Oct 1, 1916

Transferred via the No. 19 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 11 Stationary Hospital in Rouen where surgery was performed to remove the shrapnel.  A second surgery was performed 4 days later to repair damage to his left knee

Oct 29, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Gloucester Castle

On arrival in England he was admitted to the No. 1 Western General Hospital, Fazakerley, Liverpool

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Nov 22, 1916

Transferred to the Holt House Auxiliary Hospital in Liverpool

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Mar 31, 1917

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Ramsgate and the diagnosis is recorded as Ankylosis of left knee. 

May 11, 1917

Embarked the Hospital Ship Letitia in Liverpool

May 21, 1917

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to the Discharge Depot, Quebec City, Quebec

May 31, 1917

Medical Board at Quebec City notes

Ø  Disability is noted as Ankylosis of left knee caused by shrapnel wound in September of 1916

Ø  Walks with a cane

Ø  Disability is noted as 100%, but lessening to 30%

Ø  Board recommends convalescent home treatment then discharge as medically unfit

Transferred to Kingston, Ontario where he was admitted to the Elmhurst Convalescent Home

Jun 5, 1917

Transferred to the Sir Sanford Fleming Convalescent Home in Ottawa, Ontario

Jun 21, 1917

To be treated as an Out Patient of the Fleming Convalescent Home

Aug 31, 1917

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to the War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 147 Pretoria Ave., Ottawa, Ontario

Following the end of the war, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Suite 11, Ryan Court, 12 10^th Ave., Vancouver, British Columbia

Mar 12, 1921

Married to Mary Rose Robertson in Vancouver, British Columbia

In 1953 the 21^st Battalion prepared a booklet for their annual reunion
titled Do You Remember – Did You Know.  A small item from
that booklet mentioned Harry Gilpin

May 9, 1962

The Canadian Voter list shows him living at 3676 50^th Ave., Vancouver, British Columbia with his wife Mary and brother Jack Walker Gilpin

Aug 21, 1970

Harry Walker Gilpin died while a patient of the Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia and was buried in the Victory Memorial Park, Surrey, British Columbia