John Gillies was born in Scotland in September 1882. He immigrated to Canada prior to the war and enlisted in July 1915 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with the 78th Battalion. Gillies went overseas but was discharged in December 1916 on compassionate grounds, and died in Winnipeg in November 1918. The collection currently consists of three photographs and his discharge certificate. See also the collection of James Reid Gillies, his brother.