835301 Pte Gordon Kimmett was born on May 16th, 1897 near Marlbank, Ontario, Canada.
Gordon enlisted on January 14th, 1916 with the 146th Battalion based out of Kingston, Ontario. He trained locally at Camp Barriefield, just outside of Kingston, until the Battalion was relocated to Camp Valcartier, near Quebec City, arriving on July 4th, 1916. After extensive training at Valcartier during the summer of 1916, Gordon and the 146th BN were given orders to relocate to England, leaving Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 27th, 1916. Arriving in Liverpool, England on October 16th 1916, the 146th BN was immediately moved to Shorncliffe Camp, Lower Dibgate and absorbed into the 95th Reserve Battalion.
Assigned to the 4th CMR on November 30th, 1916, Gordon joined them in the field on December 29th, 1916 near Etrun, France. After only two weeks at the front, Gordon suffered from Otitis Media, disease of the middle ear, and was treated at the Number 9 Canadian Field Ambulance near Aux Rietz, though returned to his unit on January 17th, 1917.
While making final preparations for the Battle of Vimy Ridge, on April 8th, 1917 the day prior to the main attack, Gordon was at the front lines and received a gun shot wound to his head, though this was noted as slight. He was moved to the Number 16 General Hospital at Le Treport, where he remained until recovered, whereupon he was able to rejoin the 4th CMR on April 23rd, 1917.
After several months of action, Gordon contracted diphtheria while near Barlin, France on October 9th, 1917 and was moved to the Number 46 Stationary Hospital at Etaples. Gordon's recovery spanned over the next 3 months, being moved to the Number 15 Convalescent Depot at Trouville during this time. He rejoined the 4th CMR on January 15th, 1918 at Loos, France, having missed the entire Battle of Passchendaele in Flanders.
Gordon fought in all of the remaining 4th CMR battles through to the end of war. While in the process of general demobilization from France, Gordon contracted Spanish Flu and sadly died as a result of influenza with pneumonia at the 12th General Hospital at Camp Bramshott, England on February 21st, 1919.
635301 Pte Gordon Kimmett was buried at Bramshott (St. Mary) Churchyard in Hampshire, England, near Camp Bramshott. He was one of 61 soldiers to die of influenza at Camp Bramshott in February 1919.
A detailed summary of Gordon's military history is available in this linked video:
The above biography, images and video link are courtesy of Joel Kimmett.