Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas Richard Gill was born on 12th of August 1891 in Dorking, Surrey and was baptised on  13th of September 1891 at St. Martin’s church in Dorking.

His parents were Richard Gill born about 1858 in Hascombe, Surrey and Lydia Gill nee Sivyer born about 1864 in Dorking, Surrey. The couple married on 7th  June 1884 at St. John’s Church in North Holmwood, Surrey.

Thomas had four siblings: Lydia Gill born about 1886 in Holmwood, Surrey; Louisa born about 1889 in Dorking, Surrey; Agnes born about 1898 in Dorking, Surrey and Edmund born about 1900 in Dorking Surrey.

At the time of the 1901 Census the family lived at 10 St. Martins Place, Dorking and Thomas’ father worked as a general labourer. Dorking is a market town in Surrey, England between Ranmore Common in the North Downs range of hills and Leith Hill in the Greensand Ridge, centred 21 miles (34 km) from London

By the time of the 1911 Census, Thomas moved from Dorking to London and worked as a footman for Mrs Violet Dudley Ward, a 56 year old widow, at 63 Cromwell Rd, South Kensington. She employed 9 servants and a governess and occupied a house with 19 rooms.

Thomas’ family moved from Dorking to Betchworth and at the time of the 1911 Census lived at The Cottages, Betchworth Hill, Betchworth. Thomas’ father Richard worked as a cow man on a farm.

Sometime after the 1911 Census took place Thomas emigrated to Australia.

Thomas enlisted on 26th  October 1914 in Ayr, Queensland, Australia in the Australian

Imperial Force. He became part of the C Company, 15th Battalion of the

Infantry A.I.F.

His occupation before enlistment was a labourer.

On  22nd  December 1914 the 15th Battalion embarked at Melbourne on H.M.A.T. A40 ‘Ceramic’ to Egypt.

After a brief stop in Albany, Western Australia, the battalion proceeded to Egypt, arriving in early February 1915. The 4th Brigade [including 15th Battalion landed at ANZAC late in the afternoon of 25 April 1915. From May to August, the battalion was heavily involved in establishing and defending the front line of the ANZAC beachhead.’

Thomas went missing at the Dardanelles on the 9th  May 1915. It is thought that he was killed in action on the  Gallipoli Peninsula on 10th May 1915. He was 23. He is believed to have been buried on the same day by Chaplain A. Gillison at Courtney’s and Steel’s Post Cemetery, near Anzac cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. His original grave remains unidentified. A special memorial headstone tablet was erected which reads: ‘Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out’.

Thomas’s mother Lydia was his next of kin and a benefactress of his will. At the time Thomas’ will was made she lived at 2 Primrose Cottage, New North Road, Reigate, Surrey. Lydia died  in 1916 and was buried on 30th Aug 1916 in Reigate. At the time of her death she resided at 19 New North Road.

Thomas’ personal effects were dispatched including: letters, postcards, hat band, shaving brush, a booklet, testament, wrist watch, disc and Y.M.C.A. book.

A memorial plaque and a memorial scroll were also passed to Thomas’ family and the booklet ‘Where the Australians Rest’ was published with the intent to bring comfort to the families of fallen soldiers. The brochure contained a brief description of the majority of cemeteries where Australian soldiers were buried and was illustrated with sketches of burial grounds.

He is one of 8 Australian casualties of the Great War who are honoured on the Dorking War Memorial.

He is also commemorated on panel 79 at the Australian War Memorial in Campbell, Canberra.