Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Lancelot Waring Gill was born on 22 August 1887 at North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. He was the son of Henry Pelling Gill and Annie Waring Wright.

Education

Lance attended Queen’s School, North Adelaide Queen’s School and Christ Church (Anglican), North Adelaide. By 1900 Lance was attending St Peters College where he passed both Junior and Senior Examinations. Lance also attended the School of Design (where his father was a master) and passed various Arts and Science Examinations held by authority of the board of governors of the Public Library, Museum, and Art Gallery of South Australia including Geometry in 1897, Freelance Drawing in 1900 and Model Drawing in 1902. In 1905 Lance commenced studying at Adelaide and was awarded a University Bachelor of Engineering (1908), a Diploma in Electrical Engineering (1909) and Fellow of the SA School of Mines (1909). Lance participated widely in University Life, both in Sport and social events including a student's concert in 1906.

Adelaide University Sports

Football

Lance played for the Adelaide University Football Club in 1906 and represented the University at the Intervarsity Football matches in 1905 and 1906.

Boat

Lance was an active member of the Adelaide University Boat Club. He was a member of the Men’s Eight at the 1907 and 1908 Australian University Championships and was awarded a Blue in Boat in 1908.

Athletics

Lance also participated in the Adelaide University's Sports Carnival in 1906, winning the 440 Yards Flat Race (Cup Event).

Cricket

Lance Gill was in his final year at Adelaide University by the time they sought admission into the SACA District competition and attended the September 1908 SACA AGM and seconded the motion to have Adelaide University admitted to the SACA “A grade”.

Marriage and Family
After completing his degree Lance move to NSW. He became engaged to Isabel May Moore in February 1910 and they married in December 1912 at Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia.
Lance worked as an engineer and lived at Finley (in the Riverina) at some time before 1913.
Lance and Isobel had two sons Peter Waring Gill born in 16 October 1913 and Brian Waring Gill 24 March 1916.

World War I

Lance enlisted 27th June 1916 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and joined the 2nd Division Engineers. He was 5”10 ½” and weighed 190lbs. At the date of his enlistment he lived at Cleveland Street, Wahroonga (Upper North Shore of Sydney), NSW.

Sadly on 25 July 1916 Lieutenant Erold Waring Gill (Lance’s brother), then in command of 86th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery and due to be promoted, was mortally wounded and died the same day; he was 25 years of age.

On 20th October Lance joined the 7th Field Company Engineers. On 28th October 1917 he was wounded with a gunshot wound to the right thigh. This occurred during the fighting around Passchendaele. He was sent to England (“Blighty”) to recover from his wound.

After recovering from his thigh wound, Lance re-joined the 7th Field Company Engineers on 12th January 1918 and was promoted to Lieutenant on 12th March 1918. He suffered severe shrapnel wound to the skull on 21st May 1918. Described by RHS Chatto in the book The Seventh Company - Field Engineers AIF

Above is "An extraordinary association copy, in what would appear to be a one-off deluxe binding. The initial binder’s blank is inscribed ‘To the youngest sapper I knew, the one I loved and admired most, and who looked after me when I was almost beyond human aid, 18 years ago tonight. From L.W. Gill. 21/5/36’.
The event in question, which occurred near Mericourt on 21 May 1918, is described in detail on page 141; it is worth quoting in full."

"Good progress was made with the Support Line, but, on the first night, the 21st, a shell burst close to the sappers of No. 2 Section. When the sappers could see the results, it was found that Lieut. Gill was severely wounded, and Sapper W. Owen, although not wounded, was badly shaken, also having the equipment he was wearing practically cut to pieces by the flying shell fragments. It was remarkable that he escaped injury. Sgt. Raeside, with sappers of the party, immediately went to Lieut. Gill’s assistance, and turning to a sapper accompanying him, said, “Poor Gill; he’s gone!”. Lieut. Gill appeared to be dead, and had a large piece of H.E. [High Explosive] protruding from a wound in his head. Raeside and the sapper went off to get a stretcher, but, on return, found that the officer had been taken in, and were glad to hear that he still lived."

"Lancelot Waring Gill (1887-1969) was a son of Harry Pelling Gill (1855-1916), Australian art curator, teacher and painter. 8597 Private W. Owen had just turn sixteen when he enlisted in December 1915; he finished his military service as a lieutenant in the AFC. Sir William Francis Langer Owen (1899-1972) went on to become a High Court judge (see the Australian Dictionary of Biography). "

From: www.treloars.com/sites/default/files/catalogues/MTA8-lr.pdf
It was at this stage that the Australians and allies had stopped the German spring offensive and were trying to consolidate. Following his wounding, he was evacuated to England for treatment and then repatriated to Australia on 30th August 1918 due to the severity of his head injury.

Post WWI

The NSW Electoral Rolls give Lance’s occupation and place of residence as :
• 1930 - 1932 - civil engineer living in Camurra near Moree.
• 1933 – civil engineer living at 17 Centennial Avenue, Lane Cove, Sydney
• 1934-1937 & 1943, 1949, 1954 & 1958 - civil engineer living at 14 Clermiston Avenue, Roseville
• 1963 & 1968 – Lance is retired and living at 146 Copeland Road East, Beecroft with his wife Jean Ross Gill and son Peter Waring Gill.

Both of Lance and Isobel’s sons served in WWII. Peter Waring Gill (NX115012) and Brian Waring Gill (Nx24467).

Death

Lance died on 31 December 1969 at age 82 at Beecroft, New South Wales, Australia.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.