Remembrance Day 2014

This was my great-grandfather and he was a veteran:

Memorable Manitobans: Robert Alexander Gillespie (1881-1965) Drug manufacturer. Born at Winnipeg on 24 January 1881, son of Donald R. Gillespie and Kate Campbell, he was educated at Winnipeg public schools and the Winnipeg Collegiate Institute. After leaving the Collegiate, he took up the profession of chemistry and, having graduated in 1889, entered the employ of W. J. Mitchell, remaining with him until 1904, when he engaged in business for himself under the name of Gillespie & Campbell. He severed his connection with this firm in 1911 and started in the wholesale business of Dr. White Medicine Company. In 1915, he joined the 61st Battalion as Junior Major being appointed Lieutenant Colonel at the end of that year and raised the 226th Battalion which he commanded and took overseas in 1916, returning to Winnipeg to take charge of the demobilizing depot in 1918. He was one of the original officers of the Winnipeg Light Infantry organized in 1912. On 9 March 1910, he married Annie Winifred Munroe (?-1956), daughter of James Munroe. They had five children: Donald J. Gillespie, John W. Gillespie, Mrs. W. J. Wyatt, Kathleen Gillespie, and Mrs. Kenneth Clark. He was Vice-President of the Conservative Association of South Winnipeg, a member of the Granite Curling Club(President), United Service Club, St. John’s Curling Club, Elmhurst Golf Club, Masons (Past Master, King Edward Masonic Lodge), Conservative Club of Manitoba (President), and the Presbyterian Church. In 1925, he lived at 226 Montrose Street, Winnipeg. He died at Winnipeg on 31 May 1965 and was buried in Kildonan Cemetery. Sources: Pioneers and Prominent People of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Canadian Publicity Company, 1925. Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 1 June 1965, page 23. This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough. Memorable Manitobans