Claude Victor Dillon
“War cast its gloom over another Georgetown home last week, when Claude Victor Dillon, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Percy Dillon, was injured in action in France and died of injuries on September 17. The telegram with the sad tidings was received on Wednesday afternoon of last week. Claude was a driver with the Royal Canadian Armoured Medical Corps and had been overseas since August 1943. He was born in Georgetown, and attended school here, before entering the employ of Provincial Paper Ltd., Paper Division. He enlisted in October 1942. He trained at Simcoe and Debert, N.S. prior to going overseas”.
Claude was the eldest son of Percy Dillon a veteran of the Great War (having served from 1914-1919) and Anna Mae Hiltz who at the time was in treatment for tuberculosis at the Hamilton Sanitorium. Claude was one of six children and left school in Grade nine to go to work as a tender on a paper machine to help his family financially. According to the 1931 Census the family were living on Victoria St. Georgetown (specific address unknown) in a rented house, Percy had earned $575 that year and had been unemployed for 14 weeks.
Claude was sent overseas in September 1943 and his military file notes that “mother does not know he is over (she is in hospital in Hamilton) …. father knows he is here (father was over in last war at age 17)… evidently underage, seems immature and physically underdeveloped…will not admit outright that he is underage, but is apprehensive as to what will happen when his mother finds out he is here. Suggest use as a driver”.
His file also makes the note “rather slight young man of above average intelligence. Very alert and co-operative, neat, well-dressed chap of excellent appearance, with pleasant personality and absolute self-control. He has been a jockey and exercise boy at several country fairs, seems keen on joining the army and would like to drive trucks or motorcycles, stability seems fair but rather immature for his age. Shows initiative and spirit. Believe this man lacks any sense of fear. Eager to see action”.
Private Claude Victor Dillion died September 17, 1944 and is buried at Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Belgium. He was just 20 years of age. His rate of pay…$20 per month.
Claude Victor Dillon is commemorated on his parents gravestone at Greenwood Cemetery in Georgetown.
Truly a Canadian Hero. His story lives on.
*Information taken from Ancestry.ca, Findagrave.com
