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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Billson

In memory of:

Lance Corporal John Billson

April 24, 1915

Military Service


Service Number:

27702

Force:

Army

Unit:

Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment)

Division:

15th Bn.

Additional Information


Commemorated on Page 5 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

Panel 18 - 24 - 26 - 30

Location:


The Menin Gate Memorial is situated at the eastern side of the town of Ypres (now Ieper) in the Province of West Flanders, on the road to Menin and Courtrai. It bears the names of 55,000 men who were lost without trace during the defence of the Ypres Salient in the First World War. Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and erected by the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission, it consists of a Hall of Memory", 36.6 metres long by 20.1 metres wide. In the centre are broad staircases leading to the ramparts which overlook the moat, and to pillared loggias which run the whole length of the structure. On the inner walls of the Hall, on the side of the staircases and on the walls of the loggias, panels of Portland stone bear the names of the dead, inscribed by regiment and corps. Carved in stone above the central arch are the words:


TO THE ARMIES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO STOOD HERE FROM 1914 TO 1918 AND TO THOSE OF THEIR DEAD WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE.

Over the two staircases leading from the main Hall is the inscription:

HERE ARE RECORDED NAMES OF OFFICERS AND MEN WHO FELL IN YPRES SALIENT BUT TO WHOM THE FORTUNE OF WAR DENIED THE KNOWN AND HONOURED BURIAL GIVEN TO THEIR COMRADES IN DEATH.

The dead are remembered to this day in a simple ceremony that takes place every evening at 8:00 p.m. All traffic through the gateway in either direction is halted, and two buglers (on special occasions four) move to the centre of the Hall and sound the Last Post. Two silver trumpets for use in the ceremony are a gift to the Ypres Last Post Committee by an officer of the Royal Canadian Artillery, who served with the 10th Battery, of St. Catharines, Ontario, in Ypres in April 1915."

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Circumstances of Death Registers, First World War– Source: Library and Archives Canada.  CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames: Bernard to Binyon. Mircoform Sequence 9; Volume Number 31829_B016719; Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 153 Page 569 of 652
  • Memorial– Inscription on the Menin Gate … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Badge– 15th Bn cap badge. Submitted by Capt (Ret`d) S. W. Gilbert, 15th Battalion Memorial Project Team.

DILEAS GU BRATH
  • Shoulder Patch– 1ST Division, 3rd Brigade shoulder patch worn by 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada). Submitted by Capt (Ret`d) S. W. Gilbert, 15th Battalion Memorial Project Team.

DILEAS GU BRATH
  • Inscription– Menin Gate inscription. Photo by BGen (ret'd) G. Young, submitted by Capt (ret'd) V. Goldman 15th Bn Memorial Project.  DILEAS GU BRATH
  • Memorial Plaque– Me15th Bn Memorial St Julian. Photo by BGen (ret'd) G. Young, submitted by Capt (ret'd) V. Goldman 15th Bn Memorial Project.  DILEAS GU BRATH
  • Memorial Plaque– 15th Bn Memorial Gravenstafel Ridge. Photo by BGen (ret'd) G. Young, submitted by Capt (ret'd) V. Goldman 15th Bn Memorial Project.  DILEAS GU BRATH
  • Record of Service– Record of Service Card (front side).  Submitted by Capt (ret'd) V. Goldman, 15th Bn Memorial Project Team.  DILEAS GU BRATH
  • Record of Service– Record of Service Card (reverse side).  Submitted by Capt (ret'd) V. Goldman, 15th Bn Memorial Project Team.  DILEAS GU BRATH
  • Photo of John Billson– Lance Corporal John Billson, 15th Bn (48th Highlanders of Canada). Courtesy 15th Bn Memorial Project Team. DILEAS GU BRATH
  • Photo of John Billson– LCpl John E. Billson.

Submitted by the 15th Battalion CEF Memorial Project

Dileas Gu Brath

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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