Personal Details | |
Date of Birth | July 23, 1892 |
Place of Birth | Midland, Ontario |
Country | Canada |
Marital Status | Single |
Next of Kin | Mother Mrs. Mary Myles, 1st Street North, Kenora |
Trade / Calling | Railroad Brakeman |
Religion | Baptist |
Service Details | |
Regimental Number | 2125022 |
Service Record | Link to Service Record |
Battalion | No 58 Broad Railway Operating Company |
Force | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Branch | Canadian Railway Troops |
Enlisted / Conscripted | Enlisted |
Date of Enlistment | February 2, 1917 |
Age at Enlistment | 24 |
Theatre of Service | Europe |
Prisoner of War | No |
Survived War | Yes |
Death Details | |
Date of Death | April 24, 1952 |
Age at Death | 59 |
Buried At | Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario |
Plot | 51E-39-1 |
George Hilliard Myles was born on 23 July 1891 in Midland, Ontario. His parents were Leith Myles and Mary Isabelle Jane Rathwell. Siblings included William (1889 – 1956), Mabel (1893 – 1950), Edward (1894 – 1966), Laura (1897 – 1983) and Hugh (1898 – 1904). The family moved to Rat Portage (Kenora), Ontario in 1898 and George received his education here. He got employment with the Canadian Pacific Railroad.
On 02 February 1917 George enlisted with the #1 Section Skilled Railway Operators for service overseas in WW1. He was a brakeman with the railroad at the time. George arrived in England aboard the SS Aussonia on 15 March 1917 and a month later he was in France with the 58th Broad Gauge Operating Company. He was granted working pay of 70 cents per day. This unit was operating lines in the immediate rear of active operations and hauled troops, ammunition, supplies, material, ambulance trains, refugees etc. for the battles of Messines Ridge, June 1917 and the Lys, April 1918. George’s mother died in March of 1918 while he was in France. In August of 1918 George had a two week leave to the UK and in March of 1919 he had a nine day leave to Paris. In May of 1919 George travelled back to England in preparation for his return to Canada. He received his official discharge due to demobilization on 27 May 1919.
George returned to Kenora and in July of 1922 he married Margaret Irene Pinch. They had two children: Kenneth Gordon who served in the Canadian Army in WW2 and George Colin who served with the Canadian Navy in WW2. George Sr. continued to work for the CPR until about 1932 when he became the janitor at the Court House in Kenora. He and Irene lived on Water Street near the Court House. George was an elder at Knox United Church and a past noble grand of the Oddfellows Lodge.
George Hilliard Myles passed away on 24 April 1952 in Kenora. He is buried in Lake of the Woods Cemetery. His wife, Irene died in 1968 and is interred beside him.
George’s brother, Edward, also served in WW1.