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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Cpl. William Gill
British Army 2 Btn Manchester Regt
from:Hulme, Manchester
(d.20th Oct1914 )
I have a post card sent by my uncle L/Cpl.William Gill 2nd Btn. Manchester Regt. The post card is post dated 6th August 1914 and was sent from the the Btn H.Q at Ashton u Lyne. It reads:
"Dear Father and Mother, Just a line hoping to find you in the best of health as it leaves me at present. Leaving here in the morning for The Curragh and then I don't know where. Good night. Will"
The card was addressed to his father (my grandfather), Mr.Wm.Gill, 3 Birlam Street Upper Brook St. C.on M. Manchester. He left the Curragh and sailed on the 16th August for for Le Havre whence he marched to Mons. He was killed at La Bassee on 20th October and has no known grave. He is commemorated at Le Touret. I am searching for a photograph of his, so if anyone out there can help I should grateful.
Corporal William Frederick Gill
British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Lady Beatrice Tce, New Herrington
(d.12th April 1918)
William Gill was my grandmother’s brother. He was born in the North East of England, to a family originally from Cornwall, who had moved to work in the coal mines, when copper mining went into decline. On both the 1901 and 1911 census the family were living in Herrington, a small mining village about 4 miles from Sunderland. I can only assume that he attended the local school and eventually followed his father in the mines. 1911 census lists him as working as a Weightmans Clerk.
In January 1915 he enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry and was placed in the 18th Battalion. I understand that they were called the Durham Pals. I have no aural or written history, but I do have a photograph, which has been passed through the family, of a military unit of the DLI sitting in front of what I understand is Cocken Hall near Finchale. I think he is the young man sitting to the right of the commanding officer on the front row. I know nothing of his military service, other than I have a copy of the 18th Battalion war diary, which begins in Egypt. They were plunged into the thick of the conflict with the diary entries noting everything from trench foot to shell shock and their time on the Somme.
But it was the day’s surrounding William’s death on 12th of April 1918 that I wanted to find out more about. It would seem that the battalion were in the area around Hazebrouck in April 1918. The war diary paints a very confused picture of orders changing almost by the hour, parts of the company not receiving these orders, friendly fire and the attempt to hold a position near a major road and rail junction. The 12th of April diary entry covers several pages and notes many casualties with each company losing about 60 men, including the loss of 3 officers who were left behind as the companies moved on. I believe William was one of these causalities as his body was never recovered and he is now remembered on the Ploegsteert Monument in Belgium.
Pte. William James Gill
British Army 9th Btn. Welch Regiment
from:16 Milbourne Crescent, Carlisle
(d.4th Apr 1918)
Lt. Henry Gillam
Royal Naval Reserve HMS Egmont
from:Southampton
(d.7th Apr 1918)
Harry Gillam was the Son of Harry and Sarah Gillam of Emsworth, Hants; husband of Ada M. Gillam of 2 Woodcote Rd., Portswood, Southampton. He was 42 when he died and is buried in the Porto Empedocle Communal Cemetery Sicily, Italy.
Sjt. A. Gillan
Army 2/8th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Pte. Isaac Gillan
British Army 9th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
from:Manchester
(d.7th Aug 1915)
Isaac Gillan was killed in action in the Gallipoli Campaign on 7th of Aug 1915 less than a month after disembarking on 11th of July 1915. He was awarded Victory, British and 15 Star medals. Isaac was a cab driver previous to this and left behind his wife, Gertrude Gillan (Nee Lloyd), and children in the Miles Platting region of Manchester.
Sjt. T. Gillan
Army 2/8th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Sgt. Thomas Gillan
British Army 4th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers
from:Ayr
Thomas Gillan served with 4th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Sgt. John Gillander
British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Wag. Francis Harold Gillatt
British Army 2nd Bridging Train Army Service Corps
from:Flixborough
Francis Gillatt served as a Wagoner with the Army Service Corps attached to the 2nd Bridging Train, Royal Engineers. In November 1916 he was with 1st Canadian GIP at the Battle of Ancre Heights on the Somme and involved with the capture of Regina Trench and the capture of Beaumont Hamel. He was posted to Salonica, Northern Greece in Nov 1916 but ended up with Malaria in the 1st Canadian General Hospital. He was sent to Malta to recover but was delirious and posted missing but a Chaplain heard him saying the name Flixborough (in Yorkshire) and he was subsequently identified.
Pte George Edward Gillbanks
British Army 2nd Btn. South Lancashire Regiment
from:14 Langrove St. Everton, Liverpool.
(d.21st Oct 1916)
George Gillbanks was a Carter by profession who enlisted in the South Lancashire Regiment apparently at the same time as his brother Edward and brother-in-law Sam Jeffers, ending up in France where he saw action at Vimy Ridge, but was killed in action during the siege of the Stuff Redoubt on Thiepval Ridge on the 21st of October 1916.
He was buried in a temporary grave, but George's body was later exhumed and reburied at Grandcourt Military Cemetery, which is situated about 5 miles North East of the town of Albert.
On the 100th Anniversary of his death my brother Bill, his sons Brian and Ian and myself paid homage to my Grandfather George at his grave site. I have been unable to find a photo of George Edward in uniform so will substitute the only picture I have of him.
A/CSM. Leonard Gillborn DCM
British Army 1st Btn Northumberland Fusiliers
from:11 Addington Road, Nottingham
(d.15th Nov 1914)
Acting Company Sergeant-Major Leonard Gillborn D.C.M. served with the 1st Battalion, The Northumberland Fusiliers, and was regarded with admiration by many ranks in 3rd Division for his conduct during the fighting for Herenthage Chateau on 15th November 1914.
Lieutenant William la Touche Congreve, an officer of The Rifle Brigade who served on the staff of 3rd Division as an Aide de Camp to the General Officer Commanding, noted in his diary that Gillborn had accounted for eight German snipers in the space of twenty-four hours, many at the close range of under fifty yards. He also recorded how Gillborn had led a party of fifty “stormers” from the 5th Fusiliers as they counter-attacked and recaptured the Chateau and the stables, remarking that it was: “A good show and, my word, what a relief it was to us.” Gillborn was mortally wounded during the assault and died later that same day.
His death was reported in The Nottingham Evening Post on 30 November 1914:
“News has been received by Mrs Gillborn, of 11, Addington Road, Nottingham, of the death at the front of her son, Company Sergeant-Major Leonard Gillborn, of the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. The deceased, who was only 29 years of age, served for some time with his regiment in India and has gained promotion since he has been in the fighting line. The distinguished conduct medal was bestowed upon him by the Commander-in-Chief for conspicuous bravery in the field, and Sir Douglas Haig added his congratulations on what he termed “a well-earned reward,” and expressed his regret that the gallant soldier did not survive to receive it."
The commanding officer of the Northumberland Fusiliers wrote to his mother expressing his sympathy:
“Your gallant son was my acting company sergeant-major. On the night of the 15th November he very gallantly led a charge with 50 men of the company and succeeded in capturing two trenches and a stable which were held by the Germans. By his death the battalion has lost a gallant non-commissioned officer, and I feel that I have lost my right hand man, and a true friend. Enclosed is a copy of the order, from which you will see that your son was awarded the medal for distinguished conduct in the field. No man more thoroughly deserved it.”
Leonard Gillborn D.C.M. is recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as a Company Quartermaster-Sergeant and not by the acting rank he held on the day he died. His mother, Maria, later lived at 30 Norton Street in Radford. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Pte. John Gilleeney
British Army 4th (Extra Reserve) Kings Liverpool
from:St Helens, Lancashire
John Gilleeney served in the 1st Battalion, Kings Liverpool Regiment (KLR) during the Boer War and was awarded a South Africa medal for his involvement in the Defence of Ladysmith. He was injured and was invalided out in 1901. After the Boer War John Gilleeney remained as a reserve with the KLR and at outbreak of WW1, at the age of 44, joined the 4th Battalion (extra reserve). The movements of the 4th Bn are listed below:
The 4th battalion was involved in some of the worst fighting of the war and John was injured and was unable to continue fighting. He returned to the front in the Labour Corps and finally given Honorary Discharg on the 6th March 1919. John often spoke about his time in the Boer War but never spoke about his time in the 1st World War.
- 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion
- August 1914 : in Seaforth, Liverpool.
- 6 March 1915 : landed at Le Havre and attached to Sirhind Brigade, Lahore Division of Indian Corps.
- 10 November 1915 : transferred to 137th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division.
- 3 December 1915 : attached to 56th and 58th Brigades, 19th (Western) Division.
- 27 February 1916 : transferred to 98th Brigade, 33rd Division.
Pte. John Gilleeney
British Army 4th (Extra Reserve) Btn Kings Liverpool Regiment
from:St. Helens, Lancashire
My great grandfather, John Gilleeney, had previously fought in the Boer War as part of the 1st Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regiment and was injured during that campaign. He remained in the reserves until the 4th March 1914 when, aged 44, he enlisted in the 4th (Special Reserve) Battalion, Kings Liverpool Regiment. The reserve regiments consisted of many soldiers with experience of the war in South Africa. In March 1915 the regiment was sent to France and assigned to the Sirhind Brigade of the Lahore Division. As part of the Sirhind Brigade the KLR served with the 1st Bn. Highland Light Infantry, 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, 1/1st Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment) and 1/4th Gurkha Rifles.
John is reported as being injured during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle but he remained with the division until they were transferred, in February 1916, to the 98th Brigade of the 33rd Division. John was injured again in September 1917 and deemed unfit for active service and was transferred to the Labour Corps (413665). He served with the Labour Corps until given an honourable discharge on 6th March 1919.
Pte. John Gilleeney
British Army 4th Btn. Kings Liverpool Regiment
from:St Helens, Lancashire
Sjt. Daniel Gillen
British Army 10th Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Daniel Gillen served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
2nd Lt. R. Gillender
Army 8th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Pte. Arthur Neil Gillespie
British Army 10th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
from:Falkirk
(d.15th October 1915)
Rfmn. George Andrew Gillespie
British Army 11th Btn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
from:Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
(d.8th Aug 1916)
George Gillespie was my great-uncle and he was born in Barrow-in-Furness. I have inherited his letters from my father's family and he mentions training in Liverpool, and in his first letter he joked about the poor training of Kitchener's New Armies. When he finally got to France in 1915 his letters did not give details of where he was, where he was going or what he had been doing. One letter mentions that he was in "No-man's land" and that the Germans were 180 yards away. The letter describes how at night his comrades would sing Christmas songs loudly only to be outsung by the German soldiers. This was his last letter dated December 24th 1916.
George Gillespie died aged 32 in the Battle of the Somme from mortar shelling which collapsed and killed several men that day. He is buried in Hebuterne Communal Cemetery, Calais, along with one other 11th Battalion member. The letter from his commander, 2nd Lieutenant G.C. Everett, reporting his death did not mention exactly where he died. My research seems to show he may have been in the battle of Delville Woods but I cannot confirm this. George was the son of George and Catherine Gillespie, of 44, Earle Street, Barrow-in-Furness. He was not married.
Pte. John Gillespie
British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
from:Ballybofey co Donegal
(d.21st Mar 1918)
L/Cpl. Peter Gillespie
British Army 9th Service Battalion Gordon Highlanders
from:Govan, Glasgow
(d.24th March 1918)
Pte. William Gillespie
Australian Imperial Force 2nd Light Horse Regiment
from:Clunes, Victoria, Australia
Pte. John Robert Gillett
British Army 6th Btn. Border Regiment
(d.9th Aug 1915)
Sapper John Alfred Gillett
British Army 142nd Army Troops Depot Royal Engineers
from:St Annes on Sea
(d.15th Jun 1918)
Gnr. Sydney George Gillett
British Army 337th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Chapel Lane, Wychbold, Droitwich
(d.30th September 1917)
Pte. George Victor Gilliam
British Army 6th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment
from:Farnham, Surrey
George Gilliam was captured in Cambrai on 30th of November 1917. His hand was wounded and he had shrapnell in his head. He was sent to Le Quesnoy and then to Dulmen.
Sgt. Ransom L. "Dick" Gilliam
United States Army Company F 23rd Engineers
from:Garfield, Washington
My Grandfather, Ransom L. Gilliam, enlisted in the 23rd Engineers Regiment on September 20, 1917. He was promoted to rank of Sergeant on November 5, 1917, Mess Sergeant November 5, 1917, Sergeant February 1, 1918, Stable Sergeant February 1, 1918 and Sergeant first class on October 4th, 1918. His service in France was from March 30, 1918 through June 16, 1919. It is my understanding that he was gassed twice during that time. He was honorably discharged on June 27, 1919.
I am looking for any information on 23rd Engineers, Company F during their time in France. I do have a book for Army AEF "Regimental Roster, 23rd Engineers, USA" with 81 pages of names, company and address. I would be more than happy to share this information.
Sjt. James Gillies
British Army 106th Brigade Royal Field Artillery
from:Shotts
(d.24th Jul 1917)
Jimmy Gillies was my uncle. He was a sergeant in C battery 106 brigade, RFA. He was killed when a shell exploded on the sergeants mess on 24/07/1917. Three sergeants were killed at this incident and another three were wounded. Others also died. He was originally buried along with sixteen others in Manor Road Cemetery and later transferred to Perth China Wall Cemetery at wars end. In the war diary of Ralph Hamilton the master of Bellhaven he quotes, Welch had terrible luck last night a shell burst in his sergeants mess and out of six sergeants it killed three and wounded the other three. C battery has now lost no less than fourteen sergeants out of its establishment of seven all in this last six weeks. At time of this incident C battery was just S.W. of Manor farm, across railway line on N. side of junction of roads.
Sgt. James Clelland Gillies
British Army 112th Brigade
Cpl. John Gillies MM.
9th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders
from:Roslin
Page 18 of 49
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