Sergeant Albert Gill VC (8 September 1879 – 27 July 1916)[1] was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Albert Gill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 8 September 1879 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Died | 27 July 1916 (aged 36) Delville Wood, France |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Service number | 2815 |
| Unit | King's Royal Rifle Corps |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
| Awards |  Victoria Cross |
Gill was born in Birmingham, then in Warwickshire, and was employed as a postal worker with the GPO.[2]
Battle of Delville Wood
editGill was 36 years old, and a sergeant in the 1st Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:[3]
On 27 July 1916 at Battle of Delville Wood on the Somme, France, the enemy made a very strong counterattack on the right flank of the battalion and rushed the bombing post after killing all the company bombers. Sergeant Gill rallied the remnants of his platoon, none of whom were skilled bombers, and reorganised his defences. Soon afterwards the enemy nearly surrounded his men and started sniping at about 20 yards range. Although it was almost certain death, Sergeant Gill stood boldly up in order to direct the fire of his men. He was killed almost at once, but his gallant action held up the enemy advance.
Gill is buried at Delville Wood Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, Somme, France.[4]
The Medal
editGill's Victoria Cross is in the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection at the Imperial War Museum.[5]
Memorials
edit
Gill is commemorated by a plaque attached to post box B66 52, a Victorian-era wall post box, outside City Hospital in Birmingham, England.
References
edit- ^ "Kings Royal Rifle Association" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ^ Memorial plaque; see image
- ^ "No. 29802". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 October 1916. p. 10395.
- ^ CWGC entry
- ^ "Lord Ashcroft VC Collection". Retrieved 11 March 2013.
Bibliography
edit- Gliddon, Gerald (2011) [1991]. Somme 1916. VCs of the First World War. The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-6303-2.