| Personal Details | |
| Date of Birth | May 5, 1894 |
| Place of Birth | Cardiff, S Wales |
| Country | England |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Next of Kin | mother, Mrs. Rebecca Brimble, Kenora, Ontario |
| Trade / Calling | Teacher |
| Religion | Wesleyan |
| Service Details | |
| Regimental Number | 439322 |
| Service Record | Link to Service Record |
| Battalion | 52nd Battalion |
| Force | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
| Branch | Canadian Infantry |
| Enlisted / Conscripted | Enlisted |
| Date of Enlistment | May 27, 1915 |
| Age at Enlistment | 21 |
| Theatre of Service | Europe |
| Prisoner of War | No |
| Survived War | Yes |
| Death Details | |
| Date of Death | November 28, 1965 |
| Age at Death | 71 |
| Buried At | Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario |
| Plot | 8E-14-1 |
Brimble, Gerard
Gerard Brimble was born on 05 May 1894 in Cardiff, Wales. His parents were James Brimble and Rebecca Tiplin. Gerard had three older siblings: brother, Sidney (b. 1886), and sisters Mabel (b. 1889) and Amy (b. 1893). In 1905 the family immigrated to Canada and settled in Rat Portage (Kenora), Ontario. Sidney married Catherine Young in 1907 but died of typhoid fever in 1909. The 1911 Canadian census shows James and Rebecca residing at 531 4th St. N. in Kenora with daughter-in-law Catherine, granddaughter, Dorothy, and son Gerard. At this time James was employed as a gardener for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Gerard received his education in Kenora and attended Normal School to become a teacher.
When Gerard enlisted with the 52 Battalion on 25 May 1915 he listed his occupation as ‘teacher’. After spending a few months training in Port Arthur, his unit sailed for England aboard the S.S. California on 23 November 1915. Gerard landed in France in February of 1916. His service file notes that he had a tattoo – a maple leaf with 52nd scribed in the middle. A year later he was attached to the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade as an observer. It seems he held this position for two years before returning to England in 1919. Gerard sailed back to Canada in March of 1919 and received his official discharge due to demobilization at Port Arthur on 31 March 1919.
During Gerard’s time in service overseas, his father, James, died. The 1921 Canadian Census shows that Gerard returned to live with his widowed mother and niece, Dorothy, in Kenora.
Gerard taught at the Kenora High School and then became supervising principal of all Public Schools in Kenora. In 1928 he married Elizabeth Lee Ard. They had one daughter, Betty, who graduated from the Kenora Keewatin District High School in 1949. When King George School was built in Kenora, Gerard was appointed Principal. Gerard kept his interest in military matters and in 1944 he was the commanding officer of the 143rd Kenora Squadron.
Very active in public service, Gerard was involved with the library board, the Kenora Housing Authority, the Search and Rescue Squad, Knox Church, the Gideons International, Kenora Camp and the Kenora Legion.
Gerard retired in 1955. He died on 28 November 1965 in Kenora and is buried in Lake of the Woods Cemetery. His wife died three years later and is buried beside him.
