Sgt Albert Gill VC

Sergeant Albert Gill VC. Born in Birmingham. King's Royal Rifle Corps and Postal Worker. Awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery near Delville Wood, Somme, France on July 27, 1916. 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, 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 this enabled them to hold up their advance. By his supreme devotion to duty and self-sacrifice he saved a very dangerous situation. His Victoria Cross is displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum.

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