Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Glenn Gillespie
In memory of:
Rifleman Glenn Gillespie
October 10, 1944
Military Service
H/103511
22
Army
Regina Rifle Regiment
Campaign medals: 1939-1945 Star; France-Germany Star; War Medal 1939-1945 ; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.
Additional Information
April 10, 1922
Gunton, Manitoba
November 19, 1942
Winnipeg, Manitoba
He was the youngest of a farm family of eight children. He took advanced training in the Canadian Armoured Corps Training Unit, CACT, Borden, Ont. He left Canada for England 19 July 1944 and was stationed with the Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit, CACRU, 12 July - 11 August 1944. He transferred to Rocky Mountain Rangers, 11 August 1944 - 1 October 1944 and then to the Regina Rifles Regiment, 1 October 1944.
He died of wounds on 10 October 1944 at age of twenty-two years, six months and was buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Belgium. He was most probably killed during the Battle of the Scheldt, at the attack across the Leopold Canal, which bordered Belgium and the Netherlands. The attack took place from 6-13 October 1944 and the Regina Rifles were involved. (C.P. Stacey, Victory Campaign, v.3, p.393-395)
Memorial Poem:
So young to die
So short a life
So very young not to come back
So many others just like you
So long ago does it matter
A waste, a crime
Against earth and heaven
Against God and time.
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
ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Belgium
IX. B. 10.
Adegem Canadian War Cemetery is located midway between Brugge (17 km) and Gent (26 km) on the N9 which connects the two towns. From Brugge, Adegem is approached via Sijsele and Maldegem. On reaching Adegem, the cemetery is located on the Prins Boudewijn Laan, on the right-hand side of the N9. In the last week of September 1944, the Allies held the city of Antwerp, but the Germans held both shores of the Scheldt estuary, so that the port of Antwerp could not be used. The task of clearing the southern shore of the estuary was allotted to the 3rd Canadian Division, aided by the 4th Canadian Armoured Division and the 52nd Division. Their operations lasted from October until the beginning of November 1944. By 3rd November the Germans had been cleared from the north-west corner of Belgium and the south shore of the Scheldt was free. There had been fierce fighting for two weeks for the crossing of the Leopold Canal. The majority of the men buried at Adegem died during the operations for the clearance of the south bank of the Scheldt; but many Canadians who lost their lives elsewhere in Belgium were also brought here for burial.
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Digital Collection
-
Details
Photo of Glenn Gillespie – Rifleman Glenn Gillespie, Regina Rifles Regiment -
Details
Photo of Glenn Gillespie and his mother – Mrs. Mary Jane Gillespie (mother) and Glenn Gillespie -
Details
Mrs. Gillespie's handwritten note on back of photo – "This is taken out in front of our house the night we were just going to the station with him and he was sent overseas. Then he is in Scotland. You can see he is a sargent in the Canadian Armored Tanks. He sure is a splendid son. This is taken right at our gate where we lived." -
Details
Group Photo -
Details
Grave Marker -
Details
Grave Marker -
Details
Entrance – Photo submitted by Marg Liessens -
Details
Cross of Sacrifice – Photo submitted by Marg Liessens -
Details
Grave marker – Photo submitted by Marg Liessens
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.
- Date modified: