1907-07-08 to 1947-12-12

James Thomas Gillespie was born on July 8, 1907, in Oudtshoorn, Cape Province, South Africa to his father, Edward Alfred Gillespie and his mother, Maria Dorothy Terblanche. He was the fifth child out of eight children in the Gillespie family.

  • 1897-1952 — Arthur Edward Gillespie (Brother)
  • 1899-1957 — Percy Alfred Gillespie (Brother)
  • 1902-1903 — Mary Ann Evelina Gillespie (Sister)
  • 1904-1949 — John Peter Gillespie (Brother)
  • 1910-1911 — Susan Gillespie (Sister)
  • 1914-1969 — Joseph Benjamin Gillespie (Brother)
  • 1918-1918 — Maria Dorothea Gillespie (Sister)

In 1928, James registered for military service in Cape Town and served in the D.E.O.R from 1928 to 1932. When first serving in the military, he was trained as a barber and continued to work as a barber in Woodstock, Cape Town after his service, until he re-joined the military.

In 1929, James married Helena Maria Aletta Langenhoven in Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa. Together, they had one son and two daughters:

  • Cathleen Maria Gillespie (Daughter)
  • Dorothy Francis Gillespie (Daughter)
  • James Alfred Gillespie (Son)

In 1939, he volunteered for the Union Defence Force in Cape Town. He was deployed for active duty during World War II. After leaving the Union Defence Forces, he settled in Kimberley, Cape Province, South Africa, where he spent the rest of his life.

On December 12, 1947, James Thomas Gillespie passed away at the age of 40 in Kimberley, Cape Province, South Africa, where he was buried. He was survived by his wife, Helena, and their three children.