George Reid was born in Scotland (exact birthdate unknown), the son of Robert Reid and Jeanie Reid, of Petrolia, Ontario. George would marry Margaret Jane (nee Bissett) Reid, and the couple would reside at 136 Dundas St., Sarnia. For a time, George was employed as a bartender in Petrolia. George enlisted in London, Ontario with 34th Battalion on September 28, 1915. At the time, he listed his occupation as clerk. He became a member of the Army, Canadian Infantry, Central Ontario Regiment, 34th Battalion, with the rank of Private.
Only a few days after enlisting, George Reid would lose his life in bizarre circumstances. On October 5, 1915, George was accidentally killed by a Grand Trunk train while he was doing training exercises in London, Ontario. He had become delirious as a result of being inoculated for typhoid fever earlier in the day, and in a demented condition had wandered away from the camp and out of the city. George Reid would officially be listed as, Accidently killed by train. Body found on G.T.R. tracks a mile east of Fairfield Station. Was badly mangled. Actions had been noticed to be rather strange just before the accident.
A full military funeral was held for Private George Reid in Petrolia. Prior to the funeral, his body lay in uniform in the Steadman undertaking parlor, guarded by two of Pte. Reid’s friends and fellow soldiers. During the evening prior to, and in the morning of the funeral, nearly one thousand friends, men, women and children viewed the remains. The funeral was held at the Presbyterian Church by Rev. Mr. McGillivray, with a procession headed by the citizen’s band, followed by members of the Masonic Order, of which Pte. Reid was a member. The coffin was draped with a Union Jack, and the “Last Post” was sounded over the grave. Thirty-one year old George Reid is buried in Petrolia (Hillsdale) Cemetery, Petrolia, Ontario. George Reid’s name is also inscribed on the Petrolia Memorial in the Town of Petrolia. For George’s wife Margaret Jane Reid, tragedy would come again almost three years later. Margaret’s brother, Cameron Robert Bissett (included in this project), would lose his life during fighting in Amiens, France in September of 1918.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, 2C, 2D, 2G