Private George William Sills

Birth: September 28, 1880 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Death: September 7, 1916 in France
Service: WWI
Regimental Number: 77628

Biography:
George William Sills enlisted in Victoria on November 5, 1914 aged 34 years, giving his occupation as teamster. His mother, Jane Eliza Sills, a farmer, lived in Steveston. His father, listed as his next of kin, lived in Vancouver. George had previously served in the British Army with the 2nd Battalion Derbyshire Regiment for eight years, before emigrating to Canada. He had received recognition for his service in the South Africa (Boer) War.

On enlistment in 1914, George joined the 39th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and was transferred to the 15th Battalion on arrival in France, on May 23, 1915.  He was hospitalized for six weeks during the summer of 1916, and sentenced to seven days in Field Prison for absence from duty for ten hours on August 14, 1916. Three weeks later, he was killed in action on September 7, 1916. The memorial cross was sent to his mother and his father was beneficiary of his personal estate.

History of the Road Name (Sills Avenue):

• Council Resolution to list as potential road name: January 8, 1990
• Council Resolution to adopt road name: More research needed