Rank
Lieut
Service No.
Unit
RAF
Died
1 November, 1918
Age 30
Age 30
Buried
Lindsay Riverside Cemetery, Lindsay, ON, Canada
Additional Info
Vivian Bruce Wilson was born 2 August 1887, the oldest of three children by George and Andrewena Wilson of Lindsay ON. The family was well known in Lindsay, since George was the publisher of the Lindsay Post, and there was significant coverage of Bruce’s death.
In mid 1917, Bruce enlisted with the RAF in Toronto, and spent the winter of 1917/1918 at Camp Hicks outside of Fort Worth, Texas, with the Aerial Gunnery Squadron No. 1. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, and when his squadron was returned to Ontario, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and eventually Flight Commander in Aerial Gunnery. His skill and enthusiasm for flying was well documented throughout his training.
In October 1918, Bruce came down with influenza, and within 2 weeks had died of the illness. A large funeral procession was organized in Lindsay, and the Union Jack draped coffin was escorted to Riverside Cemetery, where he was interned.
Bruce Wilson is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Lindsay ON. He was 31 years old.
