Albert Gill

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
Born8 September 1879
Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
Died27 July 1916(1916-07-27) (aged 36)
Delville Wood, France
Buried
Delville Wood Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
RankSergeant
Service number2815
UnitKing's Royal Rifle Corps
Battles/warsWorld War I
Awards Victoria Cross

Gill was born in Birmingham, then in Warwickshire, and was employed as a postal worker with the GPO.[2] He was 36 years old, and a serjeant 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.

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.[3]

Albert Gill's grave at Delville Wood Cemetery

Gill is buried at Delville Wood Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, Somme, France.[4]

The Medal

Gill's Victoria Cross is in the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection at the Imperial War Museum[5]

Memorials
Post box B66 52
Plaque on post box B66 52

Gill is commemorated by a plaque attached to post box B66 52, a Victorian-era wall post box, outside City Hospital in Birmingham, England.

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References
  1. "Kings Royal Rifle Association" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  2. Memorial plaque; see image
  3. "No. 29802". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 October 1916. p. 10395.
  4. CWGC entry
  5. "Lord Ashcroft VC Collection". Retrieved 11 March 2013.
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