Private Thomas Mitchell Gemmell

1923 - 1945  (21 years)

• Name	Thomas Mitchell Gemmell
  Prefix	Private
  Born	25 Jun 1923	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	military, misfortune
  Military	WW2  [1]
  Misfortune	1945
  	killed in WW1
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-341444
  Died	26 Feb 1945	Bedburg, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany   [1, 2, 3]
  	Cause: Cause: Killed in Action
  Person ID	I341444	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	Matthew Stevenson "Steve" Gemmell,   b. 4 Dec 1882, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 14 Nov 1974, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 91 years)
  Mother	Irene Isabella Currie,   b. 17 Feb 1898, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 15 Aug 1939, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 41 years)
  Married	17 Sep 1919	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  Family ID	F248829	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Killed By Shell Particulars Received Concerning the Death in Action of T. M. Gemmell M. S. Gemmell, 9th concession of North Dumfries, has received the following letter concerning his son, Thomas Mitchell Gemmell, 21 years of age, who was killed in action on the Western front on February 26. The letter was written by Major C. F. Richardson, North Shore (N.B.) Regt., B Company, the unit to which Tommy was attached:- "Dear Mr. Gemmell: It is with deep regret and sympathy that I write to you regarding the death of your son, Tom. He had been my driver for some few months and I got attached to him. He used to drive me everywhere and was always a real gentleman, and a young man to be well proud of. He was very cool and deliberate in all his actions and thought, and was one of the most popular men in my Company. "We had taken a small village: near the Rhine on the 26th of February, and the next day Tom was walking outside the Company's H.Q. when a shell landed close by him. His left leg was taken off above the knee and he was knocked unconscious from the blast and shock. We took him immediately to the R.A.P. and he died on the way there. "It is very hard to understand why these things have to happen, but, if we remember that he has not died in vain and that he died fighting for a cause we know is right and true and his memory will always live in the memory of all nations and it will be closely remembered by those of us who knew him so well. "If at any time you wish to write and if there is anything I can do for you, please feel free to write. "Tom was buried in a Canadian Military Cemetery near a small village called Keppelu and had a military funeral." The Ayr News May 3 1945 pg 5

  
  

• Sources

  [S1886] Military - Canada - Second World War Service Files Canadian Armed Forces War Dead. Gemmell, Thomas Mitchell 21 years Birthdate: 1923 Jun 25 Died: 1945 Feb 26 Rank: Private Unit: North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, R.C.I.C. Force: Army Service Number: B134732 Additional Details son of Matthew Stephson & Irene Isabelle Gemmell of Ayr, Ontario [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link . Gemmell/ In Loving memory of/ M. Stevenson Gemmell/ died Nov. 14, 1974 - aged 91 years/ Irene Currie/ beloved wife of M. S. Gemmell/ died Aug. 15, 1939 aged 41 years/ Pte. Thomas M. Gemmell/ Killed at Bedburg Germany Feb. 26, 1945/ Age 21 years/ J. William Gemmell/ Died May 19, 1978, Aged 57 years/ Sons of Steve and Irene Gemmell/ [veteran's poppy] [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link . Gemmell/ In LovIng memory of/ M. Stevenson Gemmell/ died Nov. 14, 1974 - aged 91 years/ Irene Currie/ beloved wife of M. S. Gemmell/ died Aug. 15, 1939 aged 41 years/ Pte. Thomas M. Gemmell/ Killed at Bedburg Germany Feb. 26, 1945/ Age 21 years/ J. Willia [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Name: Mathew S Gemmell Age: 36 Birth Date: abt 1883 Birth Place: North Dumfries Marriage Date: 17 Sep 1919 Marriage County or District: Waterloo Father: Wm Gemmell Mother: Margaret Mitchell Spouse: Irace I Currie Spouse's Age: 21 Spouse Birth Date: abt 1898 Spouse Birth Place: North Dumfries Spouse Father: James Carrie Spouse Mother: Mary Brown

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 25 Jun 1923 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: Cause: Killed in Action - 26 Feb 1945 - Bedburg, , Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany  = Link to Google Earth