Name: Thomas Giles Regiment: 40th Battalion/25th Battalion 2nd Machine Gun Company Regimental Number: 415570 Rank: Private Date of Birth: April 14, 1897 Place of Birth: Kemptville, Yarmouth County, NS Prior Military Experience: 29th Battery CFA Yarmouth NS (joined 1914) Place of Enlistment: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: April 12, 1915 Age at Enlistment: 18 Height: 5 Feet 6 3/4 Inches Trade: Labourer Marital Status: Single Religion: Presbyterian Next of Kin: Matthew Giles (Father) Yarmouth, NS Date of Death: September 10, 1918 Age at Death: 21 Cemetery: Sun Quarry Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France Plot: F. 20. Commemorated on Page 414 of the First World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on September 6 Listed on the Nominal Roll of the 40th Battalion. Thomas was the son of Matthew and Mary Ann Giles, of Commercial St., Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Thomas enlisted in April 1915 with the 40th Battalion and transferred to the 25th Battalion. He was twice wounded in battle. The offensive in which he was instantly killed took place to the east of Arras. He was buried by his comrades with military honour. Private Giles was one of a gun crew proceeding to relive the crew of H Battery at about 3:15 am on September 10th, 1918 near Buissy, west of the Canal du Nord. While proceeding along the railroad track, in single file with just sufficient interval to keep in touch with the intention of turning off to the right on the road crossing the railway, a shell exploded just as the crossing was reached killing one of the party and severely wounding Private Giles who succumbed to his wounds before a dressing station was reached. Thomas was one of four brothers who served. Matthew Giles was killed at the Somme, James Henry Giles at Vimy and a third brother, Frank George Giles, the only surviving brother was invalided home. The following letter written in May, 1916 by Lieutenant Victor Eugene Eldridge mentions Thomas Giles. Sources: Library and Archives Canada Veterans Affairs Canada Additional Information: “A Monument Speaks” A Thurston; 1989 (pp 186-187)

Thomas Giles