Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Grave marker – Marker at the grave of Private Eric J. Hilts in the Minesing Union Cemetery, George Johnston Road, Minesing, Ontario. A personal message near the bottom of the stone reads: "BELOVED HUSBAND, FATHER, SON AND BROTHER. REST IN PEACE." Pte Hilts, a veteran of the Aleutian campaign, was accidentally killed by an explosion during a training exercise in British Columbia. The records of the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission, as well as Canada's Book or Remembrance, show Pte Hilts to have been a member of the Prince Edward Island Highlanders; contemporary press reports, however, indicate that he was serving with the Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) - and his service in the Aleutians and on the West Coast would be more consistent with the operational history of the Canadian Fusiliers. (Image taken by Gregory J. Barker of Barrie, Ontario, in 2018.).

Newspaper clipping – This article appeared in the Barrie Examiner newspaper (Barrie, Ontario), at page one, on 3 February 1944. It describes some of Eric Hilts's experiences in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, during August-December 1943.

Newspaper clipping – This is the conclusion, at page six, of the article that appeared in the Barrie Examiner newspaper (Barrie, Ontario) on 3 February 1943.

Newspaper clipping – This report of Eric J. Hilts's death appeared on page 1 of the Barrie Examiner newspaper (Barrie, Ontario) on 18 May 1944.

Newspaper clipping – This item that appeared in the Barrie Examiner newspaper (Barrie, Ontario), at page 8 on 18 May 1944, is the conclusion of the report that began on page 1.