Albert Gill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Albert Gill
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| Born | 8 September 1879 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England |
| Died | 27 July 1916 (aged 36) Delville Wood, France |
| Buried |
Delville Wood Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Service number | 2815 |
| Unit | King's Royal Rifle Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards |  Victoria Cross |
| Relations | Alexander Hogg, actor (First cousin three times removed) |
Sergeant Albert Gill (8 September 1879 – 27 July 1916) was an English soldier. He received the Victoria Cross. This is the highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy. It is given to British and Commonwealth forces. Albert Gill was born in Birmingham, England. He worked as a postal worker before joining the army.
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A Brave Soldier: Albert Gill
Albert Gill was 36 years old during World War I. He was a sergeant in the 1st Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps. This was a unit in the British Army. He showed incredible courage during a battle in France.
His Amazing Bravery at Delville Wood
On 27 July 1916, Sergeant Gill was fighting in the Battle of Delville Wood. This battle was part of the larger Battle of the Somme in France. The enemy launched a very strong attack. They quickly took over a key position. All the soldiers who threw bombs (called "bombers") were killed.
Sergeant Gill quickly gathered the remaining soldiers from his group. None of them were good at throwing bombs. He bravely set up new defenses. Soon, the enemy almost surrounded his men. They started shooting from only about 20 yards away.
Even though it was extremely dangerous, Sergeant Gill stood up. He did this to show his men where to shoot. He was killed almost right away. But his brave action stopped the enemy from moving forward. This gave his unit time to reorganize.
Sergeant Gill is buried in France. His grave is at the Delville Wood Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery.
The Victoria Cross Medal
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest award for bravery. It is given to soldiers in the British and Commonwealth forces. Sergeant Gill received this medal for his amazing courage. His Victoria Cross medal is now part of the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection. You can see it at the Imperial War Museum in London.
Remembering Albert Gill
Albert Gill is remembered in his hometown. There is a special plaque for him. It is attached to an old Victorian-era post box. This post box is outside City Hospital, Birmingham in Birmingham, England.
