Artist Info
Gerald Faulkner O'Reilly
Wife: Ray A. O'Reilly; Mother: Olive Stead
Gerald O'Reilly was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario on December 7, 1989. He was a bank clerk in Oakville, Ontario. He lived on Colborne St.
O'Reilly joined the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force in Toronto on January 16, 1917, at the age of 18. He was, first, in the University of Toronto Training Co. His regimental number was 490919 and was a Private. O'Reilly served with the Training Co. University of Toronto C. O.T.C. (Canadian Officer Training Centre) until April 16, 1917 when he was transfer to the 67th Depot Battery, Canadian Garrison Artillery in Petawawa. Now a Gunner, O'Reilly was transferred overseas in September 1917. He sailed from Halifax on the S.S. Megantic on October 15, 1917 and arrived in England on October 23. O'Reilly was transferred to the 1st Brigade, C.R.A. in Witley, England.
On December 20, 1917, O'Reilly stared his service in France as part of the Canadian Field Artillery, and was transferred to the 8th Army Brigade Canadian Field Artillery. He went to machine gun school in on January 3, 1918 before rejoining the regiment on March 13.
O'Reilly returned to England on March 2, 1919 before sailing from Liverpool on March 27, and landing in Halifax on April 5. He was discharged in April 1919.
He met his wife in 1912 at Raymo[s?] on the Lakeshore in Oakville. She states that Gerald went overseas at the age of 17, having joined in July 1916. They were engaged when he returned in 1919 and married some years later.
At the time of enlistment, Gerald was 5 ft. 9 1/4 ins. He had a fair complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. He belonged to the Church of England. Gerald had a tattoo on his left arm of G.R.O.R.
He was friends with Hedleigh Home.
