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Lindsay, May 8 (Special)
Private Gordon Heels is seriously injured
Mr. and Mrs. D. Heels, 108 Lindsay St. S., received official word that their son, Pte. Gordon Heels, aged 19, is seriously injured in England. Pte. Heels, while riding a motorcycle on duty, crashed into the back of a truck and suffered a broken neck.
He left school to enliste in the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps in Toronto in February, 1942. He went overseas in September 1943, and has been on despatch riding duty. A brother, Harry, is also in active service overseas.
Pte. G. Heels returns home
Pte. Gordon Heels, son of Mr. and Mrs. D. Heels, Lindsay St. S., town, arrived back in Canada from overseas recently aboard the hospital ship 'Lady Nelson'.
Pte. Heels is now confined to Chorley Park Hospital, Toronto, as a result of injuries he sustained in an accident when he was engaged as a dispatch rider on active service. He collided with a truck and suffered a fractured neck.
Reports reaching Canada at that time indicated that he might be released from hospital in a matter of a couple of months. However, speaking with the boy's father this morning, it was revealed that his son is completely paralyzed.
The many friends of the family extend sincere good wishes to the injured soldier and hope for his early recovery.
Lindsay Boy, Dispatch Rider - breaks neck
Gordon Heels in serious accident, is cheerful
Pte. Gordon Heels, 19 year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Heels, Lindsay St. S., while on duty overseas as a dispatch rider collided with a truck early in April and sustained a broken neck.
Harry Heels, brother of the injured man, also overseas, reports after visiting Gordon that he is very cheerful about it all and expects to be released from hospital in about two months.
Pte. Debbie Junkin of Bobcaygeon, visited Gordon in the hospital. It might also be stated Gordon is unable to write to his friends.
Gordon Heels dies at 1.55 pm today
A long fight for life which was begun several months ago when he suffered a broken neck in a motorcycle crash in England ended at 1.55 p.m. today with the death of Pte. Gordon Heels in Christie St. Hospital.
Friends are advised that further notices will appear in a later edition of The Post.
Gordon Heels' death mourned by townsfolk
Friends of Pte. Gordon Heels, age 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Heels, 108 Lindsay St. S., were shocked early yesterday afternoon to learn of his death in Christie St. Military Hospital, Toronto.
Pte. Heels was born in Lindsay, January 2,1925 and received his education in Public School and Collegiate Institute here.
Enlisting in the Ordnance Corps in February, 1942, he went overseas in August 1943, where he transferred to the R.E.M.E.'s as a dispatch rider.
It was while engaged in this branch of the service that he met with the accident which was to eventually cost him his life. He suffered a fractured neck and was totally paralyzed from then on.
He was a member of the Canadian Legion.
A brother, Harry, has been overseas since April 1943, and is still in England, where he is awaiting his return to Canada for a furlough before going on to the Pacific where he has volunteered for service.
Lindsay Legion Members
honour Comrade G. Heels
Over 100 veterans of World Wars One and Two Attended the funeral of the late Pte. Gordon Heels, held here on Saturday. Every branch of Canada's Armed Forces was represented at the service with members of the R.C.A.F., Army, Navy and Merchant Marine being present. Also in attendance were U.S. Air Force and Marine personnel.
Padre Sidney Lambert of Christie St. Military Hospital was to have been in charge of the service but was unable to be present due to the fact that he was preaching at two other funerals from Christie St. Hospital that day. Instead the service was conducted jointly by Rev. H.C. Wolfraim and Rev. J.J. Black, both being the speakers at the Chapel.
Following the Chapel service the Veterans marched to Melbourne St. in a body and then proceeded to the cemetery for the graveside service in cars. Comrade Dave Edwards was in charge of the parade, assisted by Comrades R.J. Moore, D. Osborne and the President of the Legion, Chas. Grozelle.
The Legion graveside ceremony was very impressive as the members deposited their poppies and saluted. Bandmaster W.J. Heffernan played the Last Post.
The pall-bearers were intimate friends of the deceased, namely, Gerald and Garfield Junkin, P/O. Ian Bradley, Cpl. M. Balfour, Pte. Hartwick and Murray Heels.
Among those present for the funeral was the late soldier's friend and hospital mate from the time he was injured until death, Alex Shand. A wheel chair patient himself, his presence in Lindsay was facilitated by the kind assistance of his chum and two Red Cross workers. All off-duty nurses of the Ross Memorial Hospital attended the service in a body.
Floral tributes were numerous attesting to his popularity. The Lindsay Police Dept. efficiently directed traffic along the route of the cortege.
Pte. Heels was the 13th member of Queen St. United Church to make the supreme sacrifice and his death came in the 13th hour of the 13th day of June.
