219266 Sgt. Albert Gill British Army 1st Btn King's Royal Rifle Corps from:Birmingham, England (d.27th Jul 1916) Sgt. Albert Gill served with the 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps and was killed in action on 27th July1916 aged 36 years. He is buried in Delville Wood Cemetery in France.
He was the son of Harry and Sophia Gill, of Birmingham, England; and husband of Rosetta Gill (nee Smith).
An extract from "The London Gazette" dated 24th October, 1916, records the following :-"For most conspicuous bravery. The enemy made a very strong counter-attack on the right flank of the battalion, and rushed the bombing post after killing all the company bombers. Serjeant Gill at once rallied the remnants of his platoon, none of whom were skilled bombers, and reorganised his defences, a most difficult and dangerous task, the trench being very shallow and much damaged. Soon afterwards the enemy nearly surrounded his men by creeping up through the thick undergrowth, and commenced sniping at about twenty yards' range. Although it was almost certain death, Serjeant Gill stood boldly up in order to direct the fire of his men. He was killed almost at once, but not before he had shown his men where the enemy were, and thus enabled them to hold up their advance. By his supreme devotion to duty and self-sacrifice he saved a very dangerous situation."
|