Captain Allan Havelock Gilmour

Allan Havelock Gilmour was born at Montreal, Quebec, on 18 May 1907. He attended schools in Montreal and studied engineering at the University of California. Before the war he worked in construction and industrial plant operations, including as Assistant Plant Superintendent with Plow & Watters Ltd. He had prior military training with the McGill Contingent, Canadian Officers' Training Corps. Gilmour was appointed to the Canadian Army (Active) on 12 September 1940 as a Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps. He proceeded overseas in February 1941, served with No. 29 Light Aid Detachment and was attached to 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Engineers. He was appointed Acting Captain effective 13 October 1943 with No. 17 Light Aid Detachment and confirmed Captain effective 4 February 1944. In May 1944 he transferred to the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and served with Headquarters, 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade in Northwest Europe. He embarked from the United Kingdom on 6 July and disembarked in France on 9 July 1944. His medal entitlement included the 1939–45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp, and War Medal 1939–45. He returned to Canada in March 1945 and was struck off strength at his own request on 4 May 1945. He later served in the reserve and attained the rank of Major. Allan Havelock Gilmour died at the Montreal General Hospital on 21 June 1978, aged 71.

1907-05-18 — Born
1936-08-16 — Married Mary Phyllis Gilmour
1937-09-13 — Son Roy Allan Gilmour born
1940-09-11 — Date of rank as Lieutenant
1940-09-12 — Appointed to Canadian Army (Active); serving with 4th Armoured Field Workshop and posted to No. 29 Light Aid Detachment
1941-02-06 to 1941-02-18 — Proceeded overseas with No. 29 Light Aid Detachment; struck off strength Canada and taken on strength overseas
1941-03-01 — Disembarked in United Kingdom
1941-03-07 — Attached to 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Engineers, as Light Aid Detachment officer
1941 — Completed O.M.E. course at Stoke-on-Trent
1942 — Completed Ordnance Administration course
1942 — Completed various materiel / technical training
1942-10-11 to 1942-11-04 — Attended No. 5 Canadian Training School Battle Drill course
1943-10-13 — Appointed Acting Captain (Mechanical Officer), No. 17 Light Aid Detachment
1944-02-04 — Confirmed in rank of Captain
1944-05-06 — Employed with Headquarters, 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade
1944-05-15 — Transferred from Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps to Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
1944-07-06 — Embarked from United Kingdom
1944-07-09 — Disembarked in France
1944-12-11 — Father died; compassionate-return request initiated because of family/business circumstances
1945-03-08 — Overseas service terminated for return to Canada
1945-03-09 — Posted to No. 4 District Depot from Canadian Army Overseas
1945-03-15 to 1945-04-18 — Granted leave before release
1940-09-11 to 1945-05-04 — War Service Gratuity qualifying service: 1,696 days total; 216 Western Hemisphere and 1,480 overseas
1945-05-04 — Struck off strength Canadian Army (Active) at own request; permitted to resign commission and reverted to civil status
1947-02-10 — Postwar reserve service as Major and commander, 8th Infantry Brigade Workshop
1950-02-01 — 8th Infantry Brigade Workshop unit disbanded
1950-09-07 — Transfer to Supplementary Reserve / Major recorded
1967-05 — Placed on Retired List of Officers after reaching age 60
1978-06-21 — Died at Montreal General Hospital, aged 71