117 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND GIES, Fred Stockley Fred, or “Goose”, was born on September 16, 1896 in Berlin, Ontario (now Kitchener). He enlisted on September 6, 1915 and served in Canada, France and Belgium with the 13th Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada, fighting in the trenches from May 6, 1916. He fought at the Battle of the Somme in July and in September, survived a bomb blast that injured his shoulder. Held as a prisoner of war for a year in a camp at Aldaum, Frederick was later sent to West Prussia to work in a lumber camp. He spent two years and three months as a POW. He returned to Canada in February 1919, settling in Toronto where he returned to work as a machinist. After his marriage 1921, Fred began a 30-year career as a letter carrier. Fred was a member of Fred Gies Legion Branch 50 for more than seventy years. This Kitchener Branch was renamed on Fred Gies’ 100th birthday on September 17, 1996 to recognize his remarkable contributions to Canada, The Legion and his community. He died on August 11, 2000 at the age of 103 years and 11 months. GLASS, John John was born in Montreal, Quebec on September 24, 1890 and was a bank clerk before he enlisted on October 29, 1915 with the Canadian Grenadier Guards, 87th Battalion. After training in the Montreal area and St. Jean, Quebec, his regiment left for Halifax on April 21, 1915 and arrived in Liverpool, England on May 5, 1916. After leave and training, they landed in France on August 12 and after a few days of instruction in front line trenches, took over a section of trenches south of Ypres, Belgium near the town of St. Éloi. Wounded on a raid on enemy trenches, he rejoined his regiment on April 20, 1917 at Vimy Ridge after several hospital stays. On June 8/9th at midnight, he was involved in a very successful raid at La Coulotte, just east of Vimy Ridge, but unfortunately, the group of men he was with came across an enemy machine gun and he and 25 of his comrades were killed. John is buried in the Canadian Cemetery No. 2 Neuville St. Vaast, just behind the enemy lines at Vimy Ridge. GILES, Doug H. Doug was born on November 21, 1923 in Sebright, Ontario. He joined the Navy on April 8, 1942 and was assigned to HMS Edmonston as a Petty Officer, serving in the Pacific and Aleutian Islands. He also served on HMS King George V in the Atlantic and on HMS Chidingfold in the Mediterranean. Postwar, Doug served aboard HMCS Quebec, HMCS Prestonian, HMCS Lanmark, HMCS Terra Nova, HMCS Annapolis, HMCS Margaree and HMCS Saguenay in peacekeeping duties which took him to Europe, the Caribbean and as far south as Rio de Janeiro. He retired on November 21, 1973 as chief engineer with the rank of CWO. Doug was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the Italian Campaign Medal, the Defence of Britain Medal, the Victory Medal, the NATO Medal and Bar, the Canadian Forces Decoration with Clasp and the Centennial Medal. He was awarded a Life Membership in 1982 from Orillia Legion Branch 34 where he has been a member for sixty-eight years.
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