Albert Gill
Sergeant, 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps
- Register No.
- 450 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps all King's Royal Rifle Corps VCs →
- Date of action
- 27 July 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 26th October, 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Born
- 8th September 1879 at Birmingham
- Died
- 27th July 1916 at Delville Wood, France
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Delville Wood Cemetery, France and on King's Royal Rifle Corps Memorial, Winchester Cathedral
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GILL, Albert. (reg No. 450).
Sergeant. 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps.
London Gazetted on 26th October, 1916.
Born on 8th September 1879 at Birmingham.
Died on 27th July 1916 at Delville Wood, France Memorials at Delville Wood Cemetery, France and on King's Royal Rifle Corps Memorial, Winchester Cathedral. On 27th July 1916 at Delville Wood, France, 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. 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.
Alf's notes on his life
On 27th July 1916 at Delville Wood, France, 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. 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.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Delville Wood Cemetery, France and on King's Royal Rifle Corps Memorial, Winchester Cathedral
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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