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John James Gill

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John James Gill
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Personal Information
Date of Birth c1893
Place of Birth Bendigo, Victoria
Death 3 Jun 1918
Place of Death Villers-Bretonneux, France
Age at Enlistment 23 years, 4 months
Description 5'5½" (1.66m) tall ; 135 lbs
61.235 kg
; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair
Occupation Miner
Religion Church of England
Address Boulder, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr John Gill
Military Information
Reg Number 7477
Date of Enlistment 12 Feb 1917
Rank Private
Unit/Formation 16th Battalion, 25th reinforcement
Date of Embarkation 29 Jun 1917 ‒ 25 Aug 1917
Ship Embarked On HMAT A30 Borda Fremantle to Plymouth
Fate Killed in Action 3 Jun 1918
Monument Jarrahdale Honour Roll
ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Australian War Memorial
Medals British War Medal
Victory Medal



Pre War

War Service

Enlisted the first time on 22 Jan 1916 and was allocated to the 45th Depot Company until 2 Mar 1916 when he was allocated to the 10th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion. At some point he fell behind in his training and was reallocated to the 22nd Depot Company. On 5 Apr 1916, however, he was again allocated to a training unit, the 18th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion, but his records show that again he was moved back to the 22nd Depot Company. Seemingly disenchanted he went AWOL, and on 12 May 1916 he was summarily discharged as being Absent.

John enlisted the second time in Boulder. On entry to Blackboy Hill camp he was allocated to the 25th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion, and travelled with them to England aboard HMAT A30 Borda, disembarking in Plymouth on 25 Aug 1917. On arrival John was sent to the 4th Training Battalion at Codford to prepare for France.

John proceeded overseas to France on 4 Dec 1917 to reinforce the 44th Battalion, and was taken on strength by them on 10 Dec 1917 as they completed a period of rest near Armentieres before returning to forward areas.

John's death is reported for 3 Jun 1918, when the Battalion War Diary Entry for the day reads:

Monastry Du Bois L'Abbe. 3rd June 1918. Nothing of interest to report apart from a few heavy shells on the battery areas in the vicinity. Weather still fine.

Neville Browning in his book "The Westralian Battalion" noted that those batteries were in the vicinity of the 44th Battalion's lines and two men from 'B' Company were killed, John Gill being one of them.

  • Serre Road Cemetery No.2 - CWGC
  • John James Gill's grave location CWGC

Notes

Only likely match for name on the Mundijong memorial - possibly an earlier resident?


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