Albert George Gilham

Rank: 
Corporal
Regimental number: 
406088
Unit at enlistment: 
36th Battalion
Force: 
C.E.F.
Volunteered or conscripted: 
Volunteered
Survived the war: 
Yes
Wounded: 
Yes
Cemetery: 
Mount Hope Cemetery, Soldiers' Plot, Brantford, Ontario
Commemorated at: 
First Baptist Church
Birth country: 
England
Birth county: 
Greater London
Birth city: 
London
Address at enlistment: 
8 Mohawk Road, Brantford, Ontario
Next of kin address: 
8 Mohawk Road, Brantford, Ontario
Trade or calling: 
Farmer
Employer: 
William Brittain
Religious denominations: 
Other
Marital status: 
Single
Age at enlistment: 
23

Letters and documents

BX January 21, 1918

In French Hospital

The friends of Private Albert George Gilham will be pleased to know his parents have at last heard from him. He has been very ill with bronchitis following a second attack of the “flu,” and has been in hospital since November. He is now progressing favorably.

BX March 23, 1916

Parcels Failed to Reach the Men – May Have Been Burned in a Freight Car Fire in Quebec

The following letter has been received by Miss E. VanNorman, hon.-secretary of Brant Chapter, I.O.D.E., from Pte. Albert George Gilham in France:

March 1, 1916

406088 Pte. A.G. Gilham
“A” Co., 1st Batt. 1st Brigade
1st Canadian Contingent
C.E.F.

To E. VanNorman, Hon.-Secy.,
Brant Chapter I.O.D.E.

Dear Miss VanNorman,

I am glad to say that your letter of February 12 was received by me on Feb. 28. I am glad to see that the matter is being brought to the notice of the Chapter, and I am sure that only good will come from it. Up until the date of writing this letter nothing has been heard of the parcels which were sent by you in November. The only explanation that I can offer is that they either have got to another unit, or else they were burnt along with a lot of other stuff in a freight car that was supposed to have caught fire at Quebec in November. Before closing my letter I must thank you very much for the papers, which will be greatly enjoyed.

I might say that the boys and myself are feeling pretty good, but always looking for a letter from home. In closing I should like to say that I hope that if you should send anything to us it will have better luck than the last consignment. With all good wishes to Brantford and the I.O.D.E., I remain,

Yours sincerely,

Albert G. Gilham

BX November 1, 1915

Brothers Buried in Trench by a Shell – Pte. A.G. and George Gilham Had to be Dug Out of Wrecked Trench Which Was Hit by a German Explosive – Are Doing Well

A few days ago it was officially announced that Ptes. A.G. Gilham and George Gilham, brothers, were both in hospital suffering from shock.  This shock, it is now known, came when the two were buried in a trench. Following the explosion of a well aimed German shell. Pte. A.G. Gilham, who was the more seriously injured, writes as follows to his mother here:
 
October 17, 1915
 
406088 Pte. A.G. Gilham,
1st Canadians, 1st Canadian General Hospital
S 11 P.O., France
 
Dear Mother,
 
Just a line to let you know how I am getting along, I am sorry to tell you that I am in the hospital, suffering from a crushed chest and shoulders by being buried in a trench. We were in our trenches firing when the Germans sent a big shell over and blew our trenches all to pieces. My, it was awful. We were buried right up, and it took about two hours for them to dig us out. Poor old George was buried also. He was not hurt so much as I, for he was able to get to the ambulance, while I had to wait for the stretchers, and I have been on my back ever since this happened, about Oct. 13 as near as I can tell you. But don’t worry, mother, dear, for I am in a very nice hospital and the nurses are very nice and will do anything that you want. I hear George has been moved over to England to Epsom Hospital. I don’t know whether I shall be sent to England or not, but I hope I am.

Well, I’m tired now, but cheer up, as I am getting along as well as can be expected.

I must say it is a very rough life in the trenches, but still we have roughed it before and I suppose we can do so again now. Good-bye for the present, hoping to hear from you soon.
 
Your affectionate son,
Albert G. Gilham

​P.S. – I do not know how George is, as I have neither heard of him nor seen him since he was moved in the ambulance.

BX October 26, 1915
 
Two Local Casualties – Corporal W. Billington and Private A.G. Gilham Were Wounded

Word has been received in the city, announcing the wounding of two more Brantford soldiers, in the persons of Corp. W. Billington and Pte. Albert George Gilham.

Corp. Billington was a member of the brass band of the 38th Dufferin Rifles at the outbreak of hostilities, playing the saxophone. He volunteered for active service with the Second Contingent going into camp with Major “Bert” Newman’s command. His wife, Mrs. Billington, returned to her home in the Old Country and in the official casualty lists published at Ottawa his next of kin was given as residing in England.

The second casualty was that of Pte. Albert George Gilham, who resided with this parents on Mohawk Street, and who enlisted in March with he 36th Battalion, under Lieut.-Col. E.C. Ashton. Private Gilham, who is single, is reported wounded according to an official telegram received this morning from Ottawa. He had no previous service. Pte. Gilham was chosen in a draft from the 36th Battalion to go to the trenches in France.

It is also reported this morning that Pte. Gilham’s brother, Trooper G.H. Gilham who enlisted last November with the battalion of Mounted Infantry, now with the Seventh Mounted Rifles, has been wounded. Trooper Gilham, like his brother is unmarried and had no previous service.

BX October 27, 1915
 
Brantford Casualties

Private Robert Thompson of the 19th Battalion, reported in yesterday’s list as wounded, enlisted in Brantford. He is 21 years old and unmarried. The names of Pte. Harry Houlding, 4th Battalion, wounded, and Pte. George Henry Gilham, and Driver Albert George Gilham, appear in today’s official casualty list.

BX December 22, 1915

Two Brothers From Brantford Both Wounded – Pte. A.G. Gilham Goes to Hospital with Shrapnel in Knee

The friends of Private Albert G. Gilham will be sorry to hear that he has again been wounded. This time he has been taken to No. 8 clearing station suffering from a shrapnel knee. His brother George is still in England, recovering from wounds received in October. He is still very weak and only able to get around with the help of a stick.

Private A.G. Gilham was formerly of the 36th Battalion, but was transferred to the First Battalion.

BX May 22, 1917

That her eldest son Pte. Albert George Gilham had been wounded in the chin by a gunshot and admitted to the General hospital at Calais was the word received today by Mrs. Gilham of Mohawk road. This makes the third time that Pte. Gilham has been wounded. Both he and his brother went overseas two years ago and were only in the trenches three weeks when they were both buried by a shell. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, and prior to enlisting worked on William Britton’s farm

BX August 9, 1917

Mrs. Elizabeth Gilham, Mohawk Road, received official word today that her son, Private George Gilham was in the 59th General Hospital, St. Omer, being dangerously ill on July 29. This is the fifth time that he has been in hospital, he having been thrice wounded, while once he was attacked by trench fever. It is not known what his latest illness is.

BX August 12, 1917

It was Private Albert George Gilham who was recently sent to hospital for the fifth time. His younger Brother is Corporal George Gilham.

BX August 14, 1917

Mrs. Gilham, Mohawk Road, has received a further telegram stating that her son, Private Albert George Gilham, was severely wounded in the knee.

BX August 27, 1918

Private Albert George Gilham is officially reported admitted to the 2nd Convalescent depot, Rouen, suffering from a gunshot wound in the scalp, received August 20. Mrs. Eliza. Gilham, Tutela Heights, was sent the cable.

BX August 30, 1918

Private Albert George Gilham, who was officially reported wounded on Tuesday, suffering from gunshot in the head, went overseas in the spring of 1915, with the 36th Battalion, and was in France in June. In October he received his first casualty, concussion of the back, through being bruised with others in a trench for two hours. He and his brother were the only two brought out alive. Since then he has been wounded five times. Being in France all the time he has seen a great deal of service and has had many experiences.

Before enlisting he worked on Mr. William Brittain’s farm. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. His mother lives on the Mohawk Road, Tutela, P.O.

BX October 17, 1975

Albert George Gilham

GILHAM, - Albert George – At the Brantford General Hospital, on Thursday, October 16, 1975, Albert George Gilham, in his 84th year, beloved husband of Maude Baker Gilham, of 14 Allenby Avenue; dear father of Reg., of Brantford, Jack, of Willowdale, Mrs. William (Phyllis) Crossman, of Brantford, Mrs. Luke (Joan) Yurkovic, of Vancouver, B.C.; brother of Alfred, of Brantford, and Mrs. Ethel Sparks, of Oshawa; nine grandchildren, 1 great grandchild; predeceased by two brothers, George of Brantford, and Tom, of California.  Mr. Gilham was a veteran of World War One.  Friends will be received at the “Thorpe Brothers’ Funeral Home,” 96 West Street, from Friday at 2 p.m.  Service on Saturday morning, October 18, at 10 p.m.  Interment in Mount Hope Cemetery, Reverend Douglas G. Madge, Rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church will officiate.