Lieutenant Colonel Charles T. Gillmor was born about 1819 in Sligo County, Ireland, son of Gowan Gillmor and Elizabeth Todd. In 1854 he married Jeanie Walsh and sometime between then and the 1861 Census, he had immigrated to Canada and was recorded as a widower.
He had previous service in the Irish Militia when he joined the Queen’s Own Rifles as an Ensign on April 10, 1863 and rose quickly up the officer ranks. Gillmor became the second Commanding Officer when he replaced Lieutenant Colonel Durie on November 15, 1865 and led the Queen’s Own in their first engagement at the Battle of Ridgeway in June 1866.
Gillmor served for twenty-four years as the Clerk of the Ontario Legislative Assembly (at that time at Front and Simcoe Sts) from December 27, 1867 until 1891 and was a member of the elite Toronto Club, founded in 1837.
He died of pneumonia and influenza on January 3, 1892 at the age of 73 and was buried on January 7th. Of note, his physician as listed on the registrar of deaths, was Surgeon Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Strange, who had served at one time as Medical Officer for the Queen’s Own Rifles.
Service Record
- April 10, 1863 – Appointed Ensign
- May 20, 1864 – Promoted Captain
- 1864-65 – Commanded No. 2 Service Company called out to Niagara as a result of Fenian threats
- June 16, 1865 – Promoted Major
- November 15, 1865 – Appointed Queen’s Own Rifles Commanding Officer
- June 1, 1866 – Promoted Lieutenant Colonel
- June 2, 1866 – Led Queen’s Own Rifles at Battle of Ridgeway
- 1874 – Commanded the Wimbledon Rifle team
- May 28, 1875 – Retires with rank of Lieutenant Colonel
The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum and Archive 
Gowan Gillmor Archdeacon of Algoma District the son of Andrew Todd Gillmor and Mary Jemima was born in Slingo Ireland 1850 and married there and also left to come to Canada in 1883 to Sudbury Ontario where he founded an Anglican Church. He married Laura Helen Gregory 5 Jan 1891 in North Bay and his son from Ireland Gowan Jr. age 15 can be found with them in the 1891 Census. He was given the church at Rosseau in 1891 where his 3 sons were born, then his wife is found in Red Deer Alberta with all three sons plus a 4th son James born in Alberta. Gowan Sr. traveled “tramped’ all over the Diocese of Algoma preaching, teaching and being a beacon of light, until his death in Sep 1st 1928 in Sault St. Marie. His headstone is a Celtic Cross in the Shingwouk Cemetery in the Soo. He,no doubt ,was a nephew of Charles Gillmor. See the book “Gillmor of Algoma, Archdeacon and Tramp”.
LikeLike