George Henry Gilham

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

407117

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

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:

Teamster

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

BX July 6, 1916

When Canadians Took to Offensive – Pte. G.H. Gilham Reached Hun Trenches in Charge at Ypres in June

An interesting account of the dashing Canadian charge near Ypres about the middle of June is told in the following letter just received by Mrs. E. Gilham, Tutela P.O., from her son, Private George Henry Gilham of the 36th Battalion.

Just a line to let you know that I am still alive and getting along A1, although I never thought that we should have come through alive for I have been in the hottest corner of my life. If my guardian angel had not been watching over me I don’t think I should have been here now, but thank God I am still here and as fit as ever, although I have a nasty boil on the back of my neck.

I daresay you have heard by now of the big charge we Canadians made and the god old lot, the 36th, was in it. Two other chaps and myself got into the German front line and we could not get relieved and the battalion left the trenches for a rest leaving 14 of us up in the trenches and do you know we had to stay there for 24 hours when we were relieved and say all the time the Germans were sending their shells over by the dozen but none hit our dugout at all.

We were just lucky but do you know that we three chaps were reported missing but wasn’t Bert pleased to see me turn up again. Fritz got what he asked for and that was a proper hiding. Now we are having a good rest after a lot of hard work for it was none too cheerful, raining all the time and say, you should just have seen us boys wading through mud up to our waists.

Pte. Gilham was buried with his brother Albert in a dugout last October, but on May 24 was able to leave the hospital and return to the front again.

BX August 10, 1917

The Dangers of Supplying Men in Trenches – Private George Gilham Tells of Experiences in Taking up Water Supply – Lost Five Men

The dangers connected with the supplying of the troops in the firing line are well portrayed in a letter received by Mrs. Eliza. Gilham, Mohawk Road, from her son, Corp. George Gilham, who was yesterday reported in hospital for the fifth time. His detail of men engaged in carrying up water lost five men in their task. The letter follows:

I guess I can tell you all about our attack at Fresnoy now that it was in the papers nearly two months ago – at least I can tell you all as far as it affects Bert and I.

Well, we were told on July 2 that we were going up to make an attack and capture some German trenches – that is they told the N.C.O.’s., and we had to fix our sections up for it and felt each man his job, and believe me there are a few jobs knocking around in an attack.

Well we went up that night in the best of spirits. We had a new draft of men in the battalion, in fact my section had only one old man in it besides myself and that was Earl Tolhurst.

When we had got up to a support trench where we stopped over night, we N.C.O.’s were told the details of the advance we were going to make.

About an hour before the battalion moved up to their jumping off trench, (that is the trench which we start from to make our attacks) I was told to pick out ten men and go for water and get it back before the attack was made. I picked out some good men and off I went to about three miles behind our lines. I got the water and started back, and by that time the shelling had started, but I kept going ahead with all the boys following me. Say, they were a fine bunch of lads, half of them were new men and had never been in the trenches before, let alone in an attack, but they said they would follow me wherever I went. By the time I had got to our old line the attack had started and the shelling was fierce but I had made up my mind to get some drink up to the boys, so I started to go through the heavy shelling. We got half way through it when one of my men was killed and one wounded. I would not leave them until I got them fixed up so I put the dead man in a little trench so that he would not get knocked to pieces and the wounded man was dressed. When I looked round half of my water was gone, so I went back through the shells to headquarters and reported the killed and wounded men, and also the loss of water. The officer asked would I take some more up and I said yes, so he gave me some more drink and some bread, and off I started again with my mind made up to take the stuff up to the boys or get killed on the way, and the rest of the men of my party were with me, so I started off again and got to my company with the stuff. Only five men out of my party were left, which included the two Tolhurst brothers, Jim and Earl, so you see I had four men wounded and one killed. One of the wounded men died at the dressing station of his wounds. It was just Hell going up with that stuff to the boys but you will never hear of me turning back from my job out here and I don’t think any other lad out here would turn back on the same job. Bert was wounded just as our platoon was taking a stronghold, and I was tickled to see him get it when I saw it was not bad, because it was terrible holding our new position against Fritz’s counter attacks. I believe he turned every gun he had there on to us, because we could not see each other for the dust and smoke, and we could not hear anything for the shells exploding. Believe me, it was a thankful moment, when some English Tommies came and relieved us. Once again the good old 1st made good and handed our new line over intact. We have never failed yet to make good.

Well we came out then and had a good rest and I got my promotion and I recommended Jim for promotion and he got it.

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 September 4, 1917

Mrs. E.J. Gilham, Mohawk Road, received the message this morning that her son, Corporal George Henry Gilham, infantry was admitted to the 11th General Hospital, Camiers, Aug. 20 having been gassed. He left here with the 36th Battalion and had been twice wounded previously.

BX July 3, 1973

George Henry Gilham

GILHAM – At the Brantford General Hospital, on Monday, July 2, 1973, George Henry Gilham (retired employee of P.U.C., 36 years service) in his 79th year; beloved husband of Rebecca Stillwell, 24 Robertson Street; dear father of Leonard of London, Robert of Mount Pleasant, Roy of Edmonton, Mrs. Walter (Ethel) Ramey, Mrs. Michael (Dorothy) Abram both of Brantford; also 14 grandchildren, one great-grandchild; brother of Mrs. R.P. (Ethel) Sparks of Thornhill, Albert and Alfred both of Brantford and the late Thomas. Mr. Gilham was a veteran of World War One (1914-1918) with the 36th Battalion and a member of the Motor Coach Employees’ Union of America. Resting at Hill and Robinson Limited, Funeral Home, Nelson and Queen Streets, until Thursday. Service in the chapel at 2 p.m. Interment Soldiers’ Plot, Mount Hope Cemetery. Rev. A. MacLellan will officiate.