Lindsey, Charles Bethune

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bethune Lindsey, DSO, ED was born in Toronto, Ontario on November 23, 1889, the son of George Goldwin Smith Lindsey, K.C. and Cora Ann Bethune.

He attended Upper Canada College (1901-1907) where he was a member of the Cadet Corps and received his BA from the University of Toronto in 1914. He served in the Kootenay Rifles before joining the Queen’s Own.

At the start of WWI, he was working for Wm Davies Co. Ltd. as an accountant.

On 15 November 1916 in London, England, Charles married Wanda Casimira Gzowski (grand-daughter of Casimir Gzowski and niece of QOR Lieutenant Maurice Roy Gzowski) and had a son George Roy Gzowski Lindsey, who volunteered for the Royal Canadian Artillery during WWII and after being instructed about the recently discovered radar, was posted to the UK into the British Army Operational Research Group. George spent his post-war career in the Defence Research Board and the Department of National Defence.

Charles died in 1975. He is buried in Necropolis Cemetery Section O, lot 87.

His medals were presented to the QOR Museum.

Service Record

October 13, 1909 – Enlisted as a Rifleman in Queen’s Own Rifles
October 15, 1909 – Appointed Provincial Lieutenant
1910 – Proceeded to England for Army Maneuvers
1911 – Appointed Lieutenant in Coronation Contingent which proceeded to England for the Coronation of George V
November 13, 1914 – Attested for service with the CEF with the QOR Company of the 19th Battalion and proceeded overseas
February 10, 1914 – Promoted Captain
October 16, 1915 – Appointed to Brigade Bomb Section, 4th Canadian Division
September 19, 1916 – Attached to 3rd Brigade Headquarters
October 6, 1916 – Staff Captain with 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade
October 9, 1916 – Promoted Major
April 9, 1917 – Mentioned in despatches
April 17, 1917 – Appointed GSO3 , 3rd Canadian Division
June 4, 1917 – Awarded Distinguished Service Order (Vimy Ridge)
July 23, 1917 – Mentioned in despatches
August 15, 1917 – Brigade Major 11th Infantry Brigade
July 15, 1918 – Appointed GSO2, 4th Canadian Division
December 12, 1918 – Return to 11th Infantry Brigade
February 13, 1919 – Re-appointed GSO2, 4th Canadian Division
February 15, 1919 – Awarded Bar to the Distinguished Service Order (LG p 2364) (Arras)
July 9, 1919 – Discharged from Canadian Expeditionary Force
July 11, 1919 – Mentioned in despatches (as per discharge certificate)
November 10, 1919 – Transferred to Active Reserve and appointed Officer Commanding “A” Company, 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada
February 28, 1921 – Appointed Second in Command, 2nd Battalion, QOR
? – Appointed Second in Command, 4th (Reserve) Battalion, QOR
July 1927 – Appointed Commanding Officer, 4th (Reserve) Battalion, QOR
December 7, 1932 – Transferred to Active List, QOR and seconded for duty as Brigade Major, 6th Infantry Brigade
May 6, 1935 – Awarded King’s Silver Jubilee Medal (George V)
1937 – Appointed to Canadian Coronation Contingent and proceeded to England for Coronation of King George VI and awarded Coronation Medal
1937 – On Reorganization, appointed to command QOR Regimental Depot
May 28, 1940 – Appointed Major, Canadian Army and recruited 2A Company, Veterans’ home Guard of Canada, later re-designated #3 Company, Veterans Guard of Canada. (This was the first company to be formed in World War II)
July 1941 – Appointed Officer Commanding and O/A Detention Barracks, Military District #2, Camp Bordon
September 1942 – Appointed Second in Command, 1st Garrison Battalion
October 1943 – Appointed Officer Commanding Veteran Guard Group (3 companies) guarding vulnerable points in Niagara Area
June 1944 – Promoted Lieutenant Colonel and appointed special representative to District Officer Commanding Military District #2
December 10, 1945 – Returned to Reserve Status