George William Gavel

George William Gavel 21838 Company Sergeant Major 10th Battalion, 2nd Canadian Machine Gun Corps November 13, 1988 Kelley’s Cove, Yarmouth Co., NS August 12, 1914 (Attestation: September 23, 1914) Valcartier, Quebec Yarmouth, NS 25 5 feet, 10 inches Dark Blue Brown Single Bricklayer Baptist John Gavel (Father) May 29, 1919 June 8, 1968 79 Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Swift Current, Saskatchewan Rugged Cross, Section 71, Plot D, Lot 2 George William Gavel was the son of John Hardy Gavel (1851-1931) and Agnes E. (Hurlburt) Gavel (1860- 1918). He was the brother of Frank Lee (1882-1966), Blanche Mary Gavel (1887–1944), Roy Ferguson Gavel (1890–1988), Fred Bragg Gavel (1892–1971), John [Jack] Noble Gavel (1893–1973), and Isabell Gavel (1896–1983). His brother Roy Ferguson Gavel also served during WWI (Service No. 282973). George William Gavel’s son, Arthur Douglas Gavel was a war casualty of WWII. He enlisted at Valcartier, Quebec on August 12, 1914 with the 95th Regiment, Saskatchewan Rifles and transferred in September to the 11th Battalion. He departed Canada on October 4, 1914 on the SS Royal Edward. He was transferred from the 11th Battalion at Tidworth Camp Infantry Base Depot in Wiltshire, England on February 27, 1915 and transferred to the 7th Battalion in France on March 26, 1915. On March 31, 1915 he joined the 10th Canadian Battalion and on January 28, 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd Canadian Machine Gun Corps. On April 15, 1916 he was promoted to the rank of Corporal. On September 11, 1916 during the Battle of Flers- Courcelette at the Somme, he was injured when buried from shell fire in a quarry north of Courcelette. His injuries included fractured ribs and some concussion. He was taken to #3 Canadian Field Ambulance and transferred to #13 Canadian Stationary Hospital in Boulogne on September 11, 1916. He returned to England on the Hospital Ship Jan Breydel to Folkestone and was admitted to the Ontario Military Hospital in Orpington, Kent from September 14 to October 20, 1916 and at the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Bromley, Kent from October 20 to October 26, 1916. He returned to France in March of 1917 serving with the Canadian Machine Gun Corps and on June 19, 1917 he was appointed acting Sergeant. From January 6 to January 22, 1919 he had fourteen days leave. He was appointed Company Sergeant Major on February 1, 1919 in the field. He contracted influenza and was hospitalized in Orpington, Kent from March 10 to April 11, 1919. He returned to Canada departing England May 14, 1919 disembarking in Canada on May 23, 1919. He was discharged on May 29, 1919.

Sources: findagrave Library and Archives Canada

Obituary: Regina Leader-Post (June 17, 1968)

“On Saturday, June 8, 1968, Mr. George William Gavel passed away suddenly at his residence in Swift Current, age 79 years. Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 11th from the Chapel of Warren's Funeral Home in Swift Current with Rev. Neilson conducting the services. Interment in Memory Gardens, Swift Current. Predeceased by one son, Arthur in 1944, one brother and one sister. Mr. Gavel is survived by his wife Vera: one son Murray, of Swift Current district; two daughters, Audrey (Mrs. Donald C. Whitney), of Toronto, Lorna (Mrs. Karl A. Ruft of Swift Current; eight grandchildren; one sister and two brothers In Vancouver, B.C. and one brother, John N. of Regina.”

Hospital Ship Jan Breydel