James Elmer Gillis, F82234, 4th Anti-Tank Regt RCA

Discussion in 'Canadian' started by Herman Sligman, Feb 8, 2021.

  1. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    I think I have him sorted out. Gnr Gillis was with the 82nd Anti Tank Battery.......He is show on Battery Orders in Mar 45 below

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    And in the 82nd War Diaries, they show them in support (in the vicinity) of the Westminster Regiment, and 3 Troops at that time......so he “could” have been in ‘G’, ‘K’ or ‘I’ Troops......can’t tell which one.....but all this narrows it down it the 82 Battery, and ‘G’ or ‘K’ or ‘I’ Troops

    AND, it says that Major Weimar & Lieutenant Dillon with to HQ Westminster Regt to “recieved orders.........Lt Dillon was probably ONE of the Troop Commanders (maybe)......


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  2. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Found this:

    ‘G’ Troop - Lieutenant Clarke
    ‘H’ Troop - Lieutenant Rosenbaum

    Will add to this post if I can find more

    Found this:

    “I” Troop - Lieutenant Briggs, and their ATTACHED to the Westminster Regiment (it MIGHT be this troop that Gnr Gillis is part of)


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    And found this, confirmation of 82nd Battery Troop Commanders

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    Last edited: Feb 20, 2021
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  3. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Found this in the War Diaries.......NAMES of the SP’s being painted on when the Regiment arrived in the Netherlands from Italy

    NOTE: “Honey” on this list is the Stewart Light Tank.....and is basically used for Recce by the Troops Officer

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    Last edited: Feb 20, 2021
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  4. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Found his name on the SP Party on the move of the Regiment from Italy to NW Europe

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  5. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Found the Serial Number’s of all the SP’s (and Light Tanks) on the 82nd A/Tk Bty, list of returns, 20 Feb 45. This “might” have changed on the way to NW Europe, but gives us a clue on which vehicles they potential had in NW Europe

    Again, the 4 Stewart Light Tanks on this list are called “Honey” on any lists or war diaries

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    Last edited: Feb 20, 2021
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  6. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Sorry, getting a little too much into the detail......but found this while looking......All the “vehicle guys” on this website will enjoy this information

    These are “all’ the vehicles that were loaded in Leghorn (Italy) for shipment to France (and on to NW Europe) belonging to the 82nd Battery.......

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    And this is how ALL vehicles (not just the 82nd Bty but other units vehicles on the same ship) were loaded on the ship

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  7. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    So, with all of this.....we now know he was in the 82nd A/Tk Battery and we have a list and NAMES on all the Batterie’s SP and “Honeys”.........all we DON’T know is which one he was in. If we could figure out “which troop” this may narrow it down.......or if their is “anything” that you remember......like mentioning the NAME of his SP or any document or letter (home) that may say the name?........then we would know exactly which troop, and which vehicle he was in from the information above....

    Here’s when all the M10’s and Stewarts arrived in NW Europe by train

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    Last edited: Feb 21, 2021
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  8. klambie

    klambie Senior Member

    No intention to question the award, but does anyone else feel there's something missing in the citation? Sounds like he's commanding a gun, but that would not normally be a Gnr, at least a Sgt or Lieut? Were there any casualties that day that put him in that role? Is it possible he was part of a group working dismounted? Would be interesting if anyone can tease out additional details of the action.
     
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  9. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Last edited: Feb 22, 2021
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  10. Temujin

    Temujin Member

  11. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    A troop (3-4 SPs) would be commanded by a lieutenant. I'm honestly not sure about the individual 'guns' or SPs in the troop.
     
  12. klambie

    klambie Senior Member

    Sgts according to Trux
     
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  13. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Found this in the War Diaries.......It show’s that Gnr Gillis was in ‘I’ Troop in May 44.......this DOES NOT mean he was still in the same troop in April 45, but it’s the only clue I’ve found so far or his possible troop in the 82nd A/T Battery. Also, this document shows “at that time” he may have been in gun ‘I’1, ‘I’2 or ‘I’4.....(‘I’3 was detached to H Troop at that time)

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    Last edited: Feb 22, 2021
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  14. Carly Gallant

    Carly Gallant New Member


    Hello,

    This may be a bit late to get to you but I am the first cousin twice removed of Jimmy Gillis. That is how he was known to his family. He enlisted along with his cousin, my grandfather Oscar Gallant. The gun he used is described as self propelled. I am attaching the information here from my father. Also, May it be known that James returned home suffering from what was likely PTSD after the war and took off out West (his family was from Prince Edward Island on the East Coast of Canada). We believe he was killed in a car accident.

    I think my father would really appreciate seeing any further information you might have found about James. My dad is retire from the Air Force now but has said that his father never said anything about the war. I believe my dad has a lot of questions about James and my grandfather.

    Anyway, thank you for your interest in James. He sounded like a very brave man. I wish I could have met him.
     

    Attached Files:

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  15. Carly Gallant

    Carly Gallant New Member

    Also, here is a picture of the medals. James obviously did not want to be found when he returned and we didn’t have internet back then to locate him. His medals were sent to his mother. My father being the oldest son inherited them and my grandfathers medals when he passed away. They were displayed in the war museum in Ottawa for a time.

     

    Attached Files:

  16. Carly Gallant

    Carly Gallant New Member

    We have some more paper work as well.

     

    Attached Files:




  17. Good Morning from the Netherlands
    Wow, very interesting info.
    All the more because it comes from family source
    Thanks for the reaction.
    I'll will add it to the data I already have. II myself have only a little information.
    https://www.rcl005.nl/archive/Magazines RCL005/2021/RCL 2021-03 ENG 1.1.pdf
    Please use the link above and you will find what I wrote in the Newsletter nr. 2021-03.
    It is the English version.
    All the best from here.
     
  18. Carly Gallant

    Carly Gallant New Member

    Hi,

    Thank you so much for the reply. I sent the links to my family. We much appreciate the article.
     
  19.  
  20. You're welcome. Honouring and remembering our liberators is our moral duty.
     

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