Glen Howard GileAge: 231922–1945
- Name
- Glen Howard Gile
| Birth | 1922 26 23 |
| Birth of a brother | 1938 (Age 16) Carl Addison Gile - younger brother |
| Death of a brother | 1939 (Age 17) Carl Addison Gile - younger brother |
| Death of a maternal grandmother | December 1, 1941 (Age 19) Howich Township, Ontario at Orrie Shoemaker's Sarah Brothers - maternal grandmother |
| Death | 1945 (Age 23) Killed in Italy |
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| Shared note | The following information is taken from Phylis Egan's Book. One child died at 3 weeks. One child enlisted 12-6-42, GNR-GH Gile, A. 103363. Died at age 26 (more likely age 22),in the service of his country January 6th 1945 in Italy Olive had a cross with a Maple Leaf on it, plus a medal. She has a lovely photo of aunt Sarah, (Brothers) Shoemaker Source of info was Olive Shoemaker to Phyllis Egan Other information from the internet, @ecember 21, 2004; http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/certificate.aspx?casualty=1717260 In Memory of Private GLEN HOWARD GILE A/103363, Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C. who died age 22 on 06 January 1945 Son of John and Olive Gile, of Gowanstown, Ontario. Remembered with honour VILLANOVA CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY Commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery: VILLANOVA CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY Country: Italy Locality: unspecified Visiting Information: The cemetery is permanently open and may be visited anytime. Wheelchair access possible via main entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our enquiries department on telephone number 01628 634221. Location Information: Villanova lies in the Commune of Bagnacavallo in the Province of Ravenna. Take autostrada A14, Bologna-Ancona, and branch off to Ravenna. Turn left along the SS16 towards Ferrara and at 7.5 kilometres, at the village of Mezzano, turn left to Villanova, about 4 kilometres. Historical Information: On 3 September 1943 the Allies invaded the Italian mainland, the invasion coinciding with an armistice made with the Italians who then re-entered the war on the Allied side. Following the fall of Rome to the Allies in June 1944, the German retreat became ordered and successive stands were made on a series of defensive lines. In the northern Appenine mountains the last of these, the Gothic Line, was breached by the Allies during the Autumn campaign and the front inched forward as far as Ravenna in the Adratic sector, but with divisions transferred to support the new offensive in France, and the Germans dug in to a number of key defensive positions, the advance stalled as winter set in. The site of this cemetery was chosen by the 5th Canadian Armoured Division for battlefield burials. It was in the vicinity of Villanova that troops of this Division succeeded in establishing a bridgehead over the River Lamone in the night 10/11 December 1944. West of this bridgehead there was heavy fighting in the following days, when attempts were made to cross the three canals that run from Faenza to the sea. From 12 to 15 December, the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment and the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards suffered heavily in these attempts, and 85 of the burials in the cemetery come from these two regiments. Others include those killed in the advance to the final line held by the Canadians on the River Senio before they left Italy in February 1945. Villanova Canadian War Cemetery contains 212 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. No. of Identified Casualties: 211 |
| Note | Glen was less tha two weeks in the Lanark and Renfrew Division before he was killed. He had been in the 1st Special Service Force ( Devils Brigade) till they disbanded in Dec.1944. |