Regimental No: J/12225
Rank: Flying Officer
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Biography: Richard (“Dick”) Gilmour was born on February 23, 1921 on his parents’ homestead in Grizzly Bear AB (Now called Belloy). His parents were Cephan David and Irene Gilmour. Irene was a war bride from England when Cephan served overseas in WW I. Dick had 2 sisters, Joan and Joyce. After homesteading for two years, Cephan decided to work for the NAR railroad, doing section work. Therefore, the family moved to several communities, finally settling in Hythe in 1929. Dick tried to join the police force, but there was a very long waiting list. Instead, he joined the Air Force in 1940. First he was in the reserves, being able to continue his job working at the Salmers’ store. When he went overseas, he was a flying office. He was killed in an air crash in Greenwood NS, on February 17, 1944, a few days before his 23rd birthday. He was given a full military funeral and buried in the Hythe and District Cemetery, plot 29.
Source: Cemetery Records – Hythe
Pioneer Round-Up p. 285a – photo of Richard in uniform; pp. 213-215 Story by Irene; pp. 79a-81a family history of Cephan and Irene