Thomas Melville Dill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Melville Dill
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| Born | 23 December 1876 Devonshire Parish, Bermuda |
| Died | 7 March 1945 (aged 68) |
| Buried |
Devonshire Parish, Bermuda
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom Bermuda |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1895–1928 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Unit | Bermuda Contingent, Royal Garrison Artillery (Bermuda Militia Artillery) |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | Officer of the Order of the British Empire |
| Relations | Ruth Dill, Tommy Dill, Nicholas Bayard Dill, Francis Dill, Diana Dill, Michael Douglas, Joel Douglas, Mary Lea Johnson Richards, John Seward Johnson II, Diana Firestone |
Thomas Melville Dill (born December 23, 1876 – died March 7, 1945) was an important person from Bermuda. He was a skilled lawyer, a leader in politics, and a brave soldier. He held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and received the OBE award.
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Thomas Dill's Early Life
Thomas Dill was born in Devonshire Parish, a part of the British colony of Bermuda. His parents were Mary Lea (Smith) and Thomas Newbold Dill. The Dill family had lived in Bermuda since the 1630s.
His Father's Public Service
His father, Thomas Newbold Dill (1837–1910), was a merchant. He was also a Member of the Colonial Parliament (MCP) for Devonshire Parish for 20 years. Later, he became a Member of the Legislative Council and an Assistant Justice. He even served as the Mayor of the City of Hamilton from 1891 to 1897.
Named After His Grandfather
Thomas Melville Dill was named after his grandfather, who was a sailor. His grandfather lost his special sailing certificate after his ship, the Cedrine, crashed near the Isle of Wight in 1863. This ship was bringing the last prisoners from the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda back to Britain.
Thomas Dill's Military Career
In 1895, Thomas Dill joined the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps. This was a group of volunteer soldiers. Later, he moved to the Bermuda Militia Artillery, which was a reserve unit of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. He became a lieutenant in this unit.
Protecting Bermuda
The British Army kept many soldiers in Bermuda. These soldiers, both full-time and part-time, guarded the Royal Naval Dockyard and other important places in the colony.
Serving in World War I
By 1914, Thomas Dill was a Captain and the leader of the Bermuda Militia Artillery. However, he gave up his leadership role to go and fight in the First World War. He led the first group of Bermudian soldiers to the Western Front in Europe. He was given a temporary rank of Major.
The Bermudian soldiers served as part of the larger Royal Garrison Artillery. Their bravery and service were highly praised by Field Marshal Douglas Haig, a very important British general.
After the War
After the war ended, Major Dill returned to Bermuda. He took back his command of the Bermuda Militia Artillery. He was promoted to the rank of Major in 1921, though this promotion was officially dated back to 1919. He retired from the military on April 21, 1928, with the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
Legal and Political Work
Besides his military service, Thomas Dill also had a successful career as a lawyer. He became Bermuda's Attorney General, which is a top legal position.
He also became involved in politics. He served as a Member of the Colonial Parliament (MCP) for Devonshire parish from 1904 until 1938. He was also chosen to be part of the Executive Council, a group that helped govern Bermuda. Thomas Dill loved history and wrote many articles for the Bermuda Historical Quarterly magazine.
Thomas Dill's Family
On October 15, 1900, Thomas Dill married Ruth Rapalje Neilson (1880–1973). They had several children. Many of their children grew up to become important people in Bermuda or in other countries. Their children were Ruth Rapalje Dill, Thomas Newbold Dill, Sir Nicholas Bayard Dill (known as Bayard Dill), Laurence Dill, Frances Rapalje Dill, and Diana Dill.
Famous Family Members
- Bayard Dill became an officer in the Bermuda Volunteer Engineers. He helped start a famous law firm called Conyers, Dill & Pearman. This firm was very important in making Bermuda a global business center. He was also a leading politician and was knighted in 1951. He played a key role in talks with the United States about their military bases in Bermuda during the Second World War.
- Ruth Dill married John Seward Johnson I, who was part of the wealthy Johnson & Johnson family. Their children included Mary Lea Johnson Richards, John Seward Johnson II, and Diana Firestone.
- Diana Dill moved to the United States and became an actress. She married the famous actor Kirk Douglas. They had two sons, Michael Douglas, who is also a well-known actor and producer, and Joel Douglas, a producer.
- Thomas Dill's great-grandson, Nicholas Dill, became the Bishop of Bermuda for the Anglican Church of Bermuda in 2013.
His Passing
Thomas Dill passed away on March 7, 1945, from a heart attack. This happened after he was injured in a fall the month before. His death was a big event in Bermuda, and he was honored on the front page of The Royal Gazette newspaper.
