GILSON, Victor George
| Service Number: | 773 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 March 1916, 12 mths Cadets, 18 mths Citizen Infantry |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 36th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Teralba, New South Wales, Australia, 3 December 1894 |
| Home Town: | Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Plumber's improver (N.S.W. Government Railways and Tramways) |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Messines Ridge, Belgium., 7 July 1917, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Messines Ridge British Cemetery Plot V, Row A, Grave No. 39 |
| Memorials: | Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Junction Soldier's Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 773, 36th Infantry Battalion, 12 mths Cadets, 18 mths Citizen Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 773, 36th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 13 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 773, 36th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Victor George GILSON was born in Teralba in 1894 and joined the Permanent Way Branch of the NSWGR in Newcastle in 1911 as a ‘plumbers’ boy’. In 1914 he was promoted to be a ‘plumbers’ improver’. In March 1916 he enlisted in the AIF in Newcastle.
He was killed in action at Messines, Belgium, on 7 July 1917.
Submitted 25 July 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Victor George GILSON (Service Number 733) was born in Teralba in 1894. He joined the Permanent Way Branch of the NSW Government Railways in Newcastle in 1911 as a ‘plumbers’ boy’. In 1914 he was promoted to be a ‘plumbers’ improver’.
In March 1916 he enlisted in the AIF in Newcastle.
He was allotted to the 36th Battalion. He embarked from Sydney in May 1916 and went to England, landing there in July. he continued to France in November 1916.
He was killed in action at Messines, Belgium, on 7th July 1917.
He was buried ‘on the hedge about 100 yards SSW of Middle Farm, and 100 yards W of road, just NW of Messines’, and subsequently reburied in Messines Ridge British Cemetery, 5¾ miles south of Ypres.
- based on notes for the Great Sydey Central Station Honour Board
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Let us remember a Fallen soldier of The Great War awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.
On the 7th July 1917, Private Victor George Gilson, 36th Battalion (Signaller, Reg No-773), plumber's improver (N.S.W. Government Railways and Tramways), from Reuss Street, (now Kilgour Avenue) Merewether, New South Wales, was Killed in Action at Messines Ridge, age 22. Cause of death unknown, probably enemy artillery fire.
No Roll of Honour circular summited.
No Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing File.
Born at Teralba, New South Wales on the 3rd December 1894 to George, died 20.8.1921, Newcastle, N.S.W., age?, buried at Church of England Cemetery, Stockton, N.S.W., name not listed on Find a Grave, from 80 Darby Street, Cooks Hill, N.S.W., and Sarah Lavinia Gilson nee Ginn (died 1.2.1957, Wallsend, N.S.W., age?, sleeping here, name not inscribed on headstone plaque from King Street, Adamstown, New South Wales (1924), daughter Margaret Wellings nee Gilson, died 4.5.1951, Hamilton, N.S.W., age 54, name inscribed on headstone plaque, Vic enlisted on the 6th March 1916 at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A72 Beltana on the 13th May 1916.
Mr. Gilson is resting at Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Belgium. Plot V Row A Grave 39.
Place of Association – Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Vic’s name has been inscribed on the Junction Soldiers' Monument and the NSW Govt Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour, 1914-1919.
Unfortunately, there is no memorial inscription at the gravesite of mother Sarah or sister Margaret to tell us of the loss of their boy during The Great War, so February 2017 I placed a Memorial cross adorned with poppies in remembrance of Vic’s service and supreme sacrifice for God, King & Country. ANGLICAN 3-186. 32.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered“.
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/.
Lest We Forget.
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