Born 4/01/1918 in Holland, (Kwadendamme Zeeland, Netherlands) the son of Elizabeth (nee Thijsse) and Englebertus “Bert” Verbeem of R.R. #1, Northwood, Kent Co., ON., at the time he enlisted.  The brother of Peter, Adrian, Ernie, John, Helen, Jacob, Nellie  and Mary.  Gilles was reported living at R.R. #1 Northwood, Kent Co., ON., at the time of his enlistment. He attended Blessed Sacrament School and the Chatham Vocational School in Chatham.  

Enlisted at Windsor, ON. 18/05/1942 at HMCS Hunter. Trained on Corvettes at HMCS Kamloops out of Pictou, NS., for two weeks before being transferred to HMS Antares a Royal Navy minesweeper serving as one of seven gun-crew members escorting ships from Quebec to New Brunswick. The next draft was in November of 1942 to HMCS Provider, a supply ship sailing from Halifax on which he served for twenty one months. For the remainder of the war, he served as the Wheelsman on the tug HMCS Glenbrook, working on boom defense and rescue work. He was discharged from the Navy 3 November, 1943. [1939-45 Star / 1945 War Medal/ Canadian Vol. Service Medal +2 Clasps). He was also Recognized twice by the U.S. Government for rescuing a U.S. ship in the Atlantic and for taking off boxes from the S.S. Martin Van Buren after it had been torpedoed.

For the remainder of the war, he served as the Wheelsman on the tug HMCS Glenbrook, working on boom defence and rescue work. He was discharged from the Navy 3 November, 1943.

On 11 October, 1943 Gilles married Adrienne Leona (nee Selis) (deceased 2010) St. Joseph RC. They had four daughters Janet (Doyle), Julie (Hendsbee), Paula (Brady) and Mary Beth (Caron) (2010).

Once discharged, he worked at the Ford Garage on King St., East, Chatham, in the tire department. He later worked at the Goodyear Tire as the service manager on the corner of St. Clair and McNaughton Ave. He would work at Ray Pare’s Shell Station on the corner of St. Clair St. ad McNaughton Ave. He later managed a Texaco gas station on St. Clair St. in Chatham in partnership with a long-time friend Harry Burleigh thus the “G & H Texaco”. Still in the gas station business they bought their own station the “G & H Sunoco but still also on St. Clair St.

Gill retired from the gas station in 1987. He then took on the maintenance and grounds care at the Nortown Shopping Centre for the next 22 years, and managed the grounds at the McDonalds on St. Clair St. to his ground keeping business. In his spare time he planted and maintained the flower gardens at Blessed Sacrament Church on Victoria Ave. for approximately forty-four years.

In 2009 Gilles was living in Chatham, ON. On 23 March, 2016 Gilles passed away at the Residence on the Thames at the age of 98 years with interment at St. Anthony Cemetery, Chatham, ON. CDN-Obit. 24/03/16.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

BSWV, IODE-IS, Contacts:- Janet Doyle, Paula Brady (daughters),,  SGOP, 2KRNR

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