Gilmore was born at Blackheath in Kent on 5 March 1885, the son of David Gilmour of Shanghai and Margaret Jane (née Muirhead), and educated at Clifton College[1] as an Engineer.
[3] On returning to England he based himself at Brooklands and quickly established a reputation as an able pilot, flying an Anzani-engined Blériot XI monoplane which he named Big Bat at the aviation meetings at Lanark and Wolverhampton.
A long switchback flight followed, and Mr. Gilmour concluded his fine performance by coming down at a very sharp angle, bringing his machine to rest exactly opposite the door of the shop where it was to spend the night.
[17] Although sometimes described as a reckless dare-devil by the popular press, this was not the opinion held of him by the aviation community, who thought him one of England's finest flyers: daring, but not one to indulge in dangerous tricks without appreciating the risk involved, and having a reputation for always carefully inspecting any aircraft before flying it.
While flying over the Old Deer Park in Richmond at about 400 ft (120 m) the aircraft suffered a structural failure and crashed, killing Gilmour instantly.
[20] An inquest into the death was held at Richmond on 20 February 1912, the coroner and jury first inspected the wreck in the Old Deer Park and had the assistance of the manufacturer Martin & Handyside, an aeronautical engineer and Tom Sopwith who had flown the aircraft previously.
[21] His funeral at Mickleham near Dorking, Surrey featured a motor lorry driven by the aviator James Radley instead of a hearse, the flat bed draped in purple cloth: the grave was lined with pink azaleas, coloured flowers only were requested and no bells were tolled.
The letter Gilmour had left outlining his wishes for his funeral ended "I want every one to be merry and bright, for I don't believe in moaning"[2][22] He was buried at St. Michael's Churchyard, Mickleham with his parents David (1842–1907) and Margaret (1849–1910).