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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Percy Royston Gilman

In memory of:

Captain Percy Royston Gilman

June 10, 1944

Military Service


Age:

33

Force:

Army

Unit:

Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

Division:

attd. H.Q. 9th Cdn. Inf. Bde.

Additional Information


Born:

August 11, 1910
Llandaff, Wales

Enlistment:

August 23, 1940
Westboro, Ontario

Son of Percy Clement and Sarah Jane Gilman; husband of Margaret Helen Gilman, of Ottawa, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 316 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

I. F. 2.

Location:

Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery is about 1 kilometre east of the village of Reviers, on the Creully-Tailleville-Ouistreham road (D.35). Reviers is a village and commune in the Department of the Calvados. It is located 15 kilometres north-west of Caen and 18 kilometres east of Bayeux and 3.5 kilometres south of Courseulles, a village on the sea coast. The village of Beny-sur-Mer is some 2 kilometres south-east of the cemetery. The bus service between Caen and Arromanches (via Reviers and Ver-sur-Mer) passes the cemetery.

It was on the coast just to the north that the 3rd Canadian Division landed on 6th June 1944; on that day, 335 officers and men of that division were killed in action or died of wounds. In this cemetery are the graves of Canadians who gave their lives in the landings in Normandy and in the earlier stages of the subsequent campaign. Canadians who died during the final stages of the fighting in Normandy are buried in Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery.

There are a total of 2,048 burials in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. There is also one special memorial erected to a soldier of the Canadian Infantry Corps who is known to have been buried in this cemetery, but the exact site of whose grave could not be located.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Newspaper Clipping– Remembered on the pages of the Ottawa Journal. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Inscription– Inscription to the memory of Captain ROYSTON GILMAN on the grave marker of his wife  Margaret Helen in the Ketchum family plot at Pinecrest Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario.  The date of his death, June 6, 1944 differs from the one given at this website, June 10, 1944
  • Newspaper clipping– Source:  Globe and Mail, July 24, 1944
  • Grave Marker– A photograph of the headstone at the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, located at Reviers, about 4  kilometres from Juno Beach in Normandy, France. May he rest in peace. (J. Stephens)
  • Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery– The Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, located at Reviers, about 4  kilometres from Juno Beach in Normandy, France. (J. Stephens)
  • Memorial– Memorial fireplace in the Britannia Yacht Club (formerly known as the Britannia Boat Club), Commodore's Boardroom, 2777 Cassels Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2B 6N6.

Plaque text 'Fireplace is Donated in Memory of Captain Roy Gilman RCAS
BBC Sailor and Compatriot 
Killed in Action In
Normandy, D-Day June 6, 1944
Donated by his wife Helen Gilman'
  • Memorial fireplace– Memorial fireplace in the Britannia Yacht Club (formerly known as the Britannia Boat Club), Commodore's Boardroom, 2777 Cassels Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2B 6N6.

Plaque text 'Fireplace is Donated in Memory of Captain Roy Gilman RCAS
BBC Sailor and Compatriat 
Killed in Action In
Normandy, D-Day June 6, 1944
Donated by his wife Helen Gilman'
  • Britannia Boating Club Memorial Park– In 1949, the Britannia Boating Club Memorial Park Association was formed to honour Club members killed overseas. An acre of land was purchased at Baskin's Beach, Twelve Mile Island on the Ottawa River (45 28 46.6  76 00 25.7). A cairn and flagpole was erected and a brass plaque honouring fallen members was attached to the plaque. The brass plaque states 'the Britannia Boating Club honours its members who gave their lives in his majesty's service during World War I 1914-1918 and World War II 1939-1945.' Landscaping was added in 1997. The Britannia Boating Club was renamed the Britannia Yacht Club (BYC). 

The Britannia Yacht Club (2777 Cassels Street Ottawa K2B 6N6)maintains the memorial park and cairn. The memorial park remains a popular camping area for Club members.
  • Inscription– In 1949, the Britannia Boating Club Memorial Park Association was formed to honour Club members killed overseas. An acre of land was purchased at Baskin's Beach, Twelve Mile Island on the Ottawa River (45 28 46.6  76 00 25.7). A cairn and flagpole was erected and a brass plaque honouring fallen members was attached to the plaque. The brass plaque states 'the Britannia Boating Club honours its members who gave their lives in his majesty's service during World War I 1914-1918 and World War II 1939-1945.' Landscaping was added in 1997. The Britannia Boating Club was renamed the Britannia Yacht Club (BYC). 

The Britannia Yacht Club (2777 Cassels Street Ottawa K2B 6N6)maintains the memorial park and cairn. The memorial park remains a popular camping area for Club members.
  • Newspaper Clipping– 17 former members of Britannia Boating Club, now in army and civilian war jobs, organize overseas club at Holborn Restaurant in London, England in Jul 18, 1942. They toasted in memory of 'Billy' Finn, 'Don' Orme, 'Don' Smith and 'Scruffy' McKenna 'who were reported missing while performing their feats of daring in the air against the enemy or passed on in the valiant service of their country'. Ottawa Citizen 1942.

Note 1: The names of the Club members toasted and two others who attended the meeting and were later KIA follow:

Sergeant Martin Willard Finn, Royal Canadian Air Force, died on October 10, 1942. 

Pilot Officer Frank Kerr Orme, Royal Canadian Air Force Division: 21 (R.A.F.) Sqdn died on August 28, 1941. 

Sergeant George Barry Don Smith, Royal Canadian Air Force 9 (R.A.F.) Sqdn  died on August 13, 1941. 

Flight Lieutenant Donald Joseph McKenna, pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force 403 Sqdn. died on September 8, 1941.  

Capt Cecil Charles Storr Royal Canadian Artillery, 2 Anti-Tank Regt 
died on August 26, 1944.

Captain Percy Royston Gilman, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps 
Division: attd. H.Q. 9th Cdn. Inf. Bde died on June 10, 1944 
  
Note 2. Britannia Boating Club was later renamed the Britannia Yacht Club (2777 Cassels Street Ottawa K2B 6N6) http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jY4zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3tsFAAAAIBAJ&dq=britannia%20boating%20club&pg=6158%2C3059069
  • Group Photo– Percy Gilman Back Row Right 
Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Ottawa Citizen. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Temporary Grave Marker
  • Temporary Grave Marker
  • Letter
  • Letter
  • War Diary
  • War Diary
  • War Diary

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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