Reg. #31
| Name: | F. Burnham Gill |
| Date of Birth: | Mar 23, 1914 |
| Location at Birth: | Brigus, Newfoundland |
| Status: | Deceased |
| Date of Passing: | May 26, 2001 |
| Location at Passing: | Kingston, ON, Canada |
Biography
Awards and Recognition
- 1982 Newfoundland Records Management Center in Pleasantville named the Burnham Gill Building.
- Stained glass doors at The Rooms Provincial Archives in St. John’s, NL were given by daughter Elinor Gill Ratcliffe in honour of Burnham Gill.
Obituary
GILL, F. Burnham - May 26, 2001 peacefully at home in Kingston, Ontario with his family by his side. Cause of death - stroke. Born in Brigus on March 23, 1914, to Dr. F.D. Gill and Ida (Burnham) Gill. Burn always said he had three careers. He was a member of the Newfoundland Ranger Force; a print journalist (Western Star, Corner Brook and the Daily News, St. John's), and a radio journalist (CJON) and he finished his working life as the Provincial Archivist for Newfoundland. He was a proud Newfoundlander and kept abreast of all things Newfoundland until the end. He is very much missed by his wife of nearly 60 years, Mary (Saunders) who was born in Carbonear; and his daughters, Elinor Ratcliffe (Edward) and Rosalind Gill (Peter Harries-Jones); his surviving sisters, Margaret Gill and Joan Gill Sheppard in Nova Scotia and his brothers Leander in P.E.I. and Francis in Nova Scotia. Burn had many friends whose friendship he cherished very much. They will miss his cheerful personality and caring concern. Also, he was fond of his many other relatives and was interested in their well-being. He will be missed by all. His remains will be buried in Carbonear, Newfoundland, at a later date at which time a Memorial Service to celebrate his life will be held at George Street United Church. Donations may be made in his memory to George Street United Church, St. John's, Bethany United Church, Carbonear, or to the Newfoundland Ranger Force Assn. Scholarship Fund, c/o 8 Sycamore Place, St. John's, or to a charity of your choice. Mary's address in Kingston is Mrs. Mary Gill, St. Lawrence Place, 181 Ontario Street, Apt. 404, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 5M1.
Ranger Force Career
| Regimental Number: | 31 |
| Date Enlisted: | Jun 23, 1936 |
| Date Discharged: | May 30, 1944 |
| Length of Service: | 7 years 11 months |
Posting History
| Detachment | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Whitbourne Headquarters | Jun 23, 1936 | Dec 1936 |
| St. Anthony Detachment | Dec 1936 | Jun 1937 |
| Port Saunders Detachment | Jun 1937 | Dec 1937 |
| Whitbourne Headquarters | Dec 16, 1937 | |
| Gambo Detachment | Jan 1938 | Sep 1940 |
| La Scie Detachment | Sep 1939 | Aug 1942 |
| St. George’s Detachment | Dec 10, 1940 | |
| North West River Detachment | Aug 1942 | May 1943 |
| North West River Detachment | Aug 1943 | May 30, 1944 |
| Gander Detachment | ||
| La Scie Detachment | Aug 1943 |
Rank History
| Rank | Start Y-M-D | End Y-M-D | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranger 2nd Class | 1939 | Jul | 1 | |||
| Ranger 1st Class | 1939 | Jul | 1 | 1944 | May | 30 |
| Ranger 3rd Class | 1936 | Jun | 23 | |||
Beyond the Ranger Force
Occupation History
1942-1944 Office Manager, Clarke Trading, Corner Brook
1944-1950 Editor, Western Star, Corner Brook.
1950-1960 City Editor, Daily News, St. John’s.
1960-1969 Senior Editor, CJON Radio and Television, St. John’s.
1969-1979 Provincial Archivist, Government of Newfoundland.
1971 Founder and President, Atlantic Association of Archivists.
1979-19?? Research Services Limited.
c.1980 Archivist, United Church of Newfoundland.
1982 Newfoundland Conference Representative, National United Church Archives Committee.
From the Library
| Photo - Unveiling Ranger Force Plaque at Colonial Building | ||
|
Author | |
| Date Published | 1980 | |
| Attribution | McGrath, Darrin Michael, ed. The Newfoundland Rangers. St. John’s, N.L: DRC Publishers, 2005. | |
| Note | ||
| Monthly Conditions, La Scie, 1942-01 | ||
|
Author | Gill, B. |
| Date Published | Feb. 2, 1942 | |
| Attribution | The Rooms Provincial Archives, GN 13/4, Box 4, File 3 | |
| Note | ||
| Rangers on the Move | ||
|
Author | Gill, Burnham |
| Date Published | Feb. 1, 1975 | |
| Attribution | The Rooms Provincial Archives, MG 621, Box 19, Folder D | |
| Note | Appeared in Newfoundland Ranger Force Association Newsletter, February 1975 |
|
| Half-Yearly Report, La Scie, 1942-07-01 to 1942-12-31 | ||
|
Author | Gill, B. |
| Date Published | Jan. 30, 1943 | |
| Attribution | The Rooms Provincial Archives, GN 13/4, Box 3 | |
| Note | ||