Personal info
- Name: Albert GILL
- D.O.B: 8th Sep, 1879
- D.O.A: 27th Jul, 1916
- D.O.D: 27th Jul, 1916
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Sergeant, 1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 99th Brigade, 2nd Division
Delville Wood, France 16-27 July 1916
16-27July 1916
The First World War 1916
As the Battle of the Somme progressed, on 14 July 1916 the British captured most of Longueval, a village north-east of Montauban and about six miles south of Bapaume. They were however threatened by the Germans in Delville Wood which bordered Longueval to the east. On 15 July the 1st South African Infantry Brigade was sent in to clear it. After five days, out of 1,500 men there were only 142 survivors. On the 16th, Private W F Faulds, assisted by Privates George Baker and Alexander Estment, rescued Lieutenant Arthur Craig. Faulds rescued another wounded man two days later. On 20 July the South Africans were relieved by men of the 76th Brigade. 10th Battalion The Royal Welsh Fusiliers had also taken part in the attack and corporal J D Davies and Private A Hill had distinguished themselves. Ferocious fighting at Delville Wood in which ground constantly changed hands was to rage until 3 September.
Citation
For most conspicuous bravery. 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. Serjeant Gill at once rallied the remnants of his platoon, none of whom were skilled bombers, and reorganised his defences, a most difficult and dangerous task, the trench being very shallow and much damaged. Soon afterwards the enemy nearly surrounded his men by creeping up through the thick undergrowth, and commenced sniping at about twenty 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 not before he had shown his men where the enemy were, and thus enabled them to hold up their advance. By his supreme devotion to duty and self-sacrifice he saved a very dangerous situation.