Veteran of First World War dies at 103

One of the longest-living First World War veterans has died. Fred Gies passed away in Kitchener, Ontario on Friday. He was 103.

Gies enlisted on Sept. 6, 1915. He served with the 13th Battalion of the Royal Highlanders in France, fighting in the trenches on the front line. Gies was in combat at the Battle of the Somme in July 1916.

In September of the same year, he survived a bomb that injured his shoulder. He was then captured and held as a prisoner of war for a year in a camp at Aldaum. Gies was later sent to West Prussia to work in a lumber camp. In total he spent two years and three months as a PoW.

Gies returned to Canada in February 1919 settling in Toronto where he returned to work as a machinist. After his marriage in 1921, he began a 34-year career as a letter carrier.

The Legion in Kitchener has been renamed The Royal Canadian Legion Fred Gies Branch 50, in his honour.

"He dedicated a great deal of his life to veterans and to the Legion in particular. He'll be sorely missed," said Tom Cummings, Legion spokesman.

The funeral is planned for Wednesday.