James Gammack

Police Constable 33, Toronto Police Force | Guardsman, 1st Battalion Scots Guards

James Gammack, Police Constable #33 of No. 9 Police Station (in the Keele St and Dundas St W area), lived at 321 Pacific Avenue with his wife May. Prior to emigrating to Canada, Gammack had served with the Glasgow City Police in Scotland as well as the Metropolitan Police in London, England at V Division (Wandsworth).

A Boer War veteran and still a British Army reservist, Constable Gammack was recalled to service in 1914 when war was declared. Gammack rejoined his unit, the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards, and went to France with the British Expeditionary Force.

Beginning in late September, his unit was part of a “Big Push” towards Hill 70, a dominant feature in the area. German trenches and the town of Loos lay between the British and the objective. Fighting would last for weeks.

On Wednesday, October 13th 1915, Gammack was killed in action following the Battle of Loos.

With no known grave, Constable James Gammack is commemorated on the Loos Memorial in France.

  • Research Sources
  • H. Grasett – Annual Report of the Chief Constable of the City of Toronto for the Year 1914, Page 49. Toronto: The Carswell Co Ltd City Printers, 1915.
  • National Archives (United Kingdom). Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects 1901-1929 for No. 5550 James Gammack.
  • The Naval Military Press Ltd. British and Irish Military Databases.
  • Library and Archives Canada. Imperial Gratuities – James Gammack.
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Casualty Details for No. 5550 James Gammack.
  • Lost Ancestors [website]. War Memorial – Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Retrieved from http://www.lostancestors.eu/memwar/E/Ellon.htm (Photos 2 and 3)
  • The Globe [Toronto](1914, August 3rd), Page 6. “Toronto Policemen May Go To Front” .
  • The Globe [Toronto](1915, October 30th), Page 9. “Policeman Dies for Empire” .
  • The Toronto Telegram (1915, October 30th). “PC Jas. Gammack Killed”. (Photo 1)
  • The Toronto Daily Star (1918, March 16th), Page 21. “West Toronto Police Honor Roll”.
  • The Toronto Evening Telegram (1918, March 15th). “West Toronto Police Honor Roll”.