Charles Leo Gillen

Police Constable 457, Toronto Police Force | Corporal, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry

Charles Leo Gillen, was born on the 13th of October 1893 and raised at Echo Place, in Brantford, Ontario, and was the oldest of four brothers. As a young man, he served in the 38th Dufferin Rifles, a unit of the Canadian Militia. At 20 years of age, he moved to Toronto and was sworn in as Police Constable No. 457. He was assigned to No. 6 Police Station (in the Queen St W and Cowan Ave area), where he walked the beat. The single young lived at 123 MacDonnell Avenue, Unit 1.

At the outbreak of war, Constable Gillen enlisted with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, and signed his Attestation Papers on August 28th 1914, in Ottawa. He sailed to England on the SS Royal George with the first Canadian contingent. He proceeded to France in December 1914, moving to the front lines under the 27th British Division. In January 1915, Gillen was medically discharged as unfit for active service after suffering a hernia under fire while stuck in mud at Ypres. Afterwards, his whereabouts were uncertain but eventually Gillen managed to stay in the army despite his discharge after refusing surgery. On January 17th 1916, Gillen married his sweetheart Mabel in England, before returning to the front lines in May. On Sunday, July 16th 1916, while his unit repaired trenches and sent out patrols near Mont Sorrel, Belgium, Gillen was killed in action. He would be survived by a son he never met – born after his death and given his name, Charles.

Constable Charles Leo Gillen lies buried at the Railway Dugouts Burial Farm in Belgium.

Research Sources:

  • H. Grasett – Annual Report of the Chief Constable of the City of Toronto for the Year 1914, Page 59. Toronto: The Carswell Co Ltd City Printers, 1915.
  • Library and Archives Canada. Service File of No. 276 Charles Gillen.
  • Library and Archives Canada. Circumstances of Death Registers Card – No. 276 Charles Gillen.
  • Library and Archives Canada. War Diaries  of the First World War –  Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 1915/11/01 – 1916/12/31.
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Casualty Details for No. 276 Charles Gillen.
  • The Brantford Expositor (1915, January 26th). “Injured with Princess Pats – Former Constable Gillen of This City Now Reported to be Among Wounded”.
  • The Toronto Daily Star – (1915, January 26th). “Six Toronto Men in “Pats” Wounded List.
  •  The Brantford Expositor (1915, July 1st). “Win Without Using Gas – Brantford Soldier with Princess Pats”.
  • The Brantford Expositor (1916, July 26th). “Corporal Charles Gillen , Echo Place, Killed in Action on July 6 – Was One of Few Remaining Princess Pat’s”
  • The Globe [Toronto]1916, July 25th). “Toronto’s Honor Roll”.
  • The Toronto Daily Star (1916, July 27th), Page 2. “Corp Chas Gillen Killed”.
  • Toronto Public Library. 1914 Toronto City Directory, Page 826.
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial: Charles Leo Gillen (Photo)