Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alan Clifford Gilson wwas born on the 22nd of August in 1891 in Birdwood, SA. His parents were Frederick William Gilson and Janet Donaldson Gilson of Blumberg, South Australia. In October 1914, at the age of 23, Gilson enlisted  at Morphettville. Before enlisting he worked as a Machinist.

After enlisting, Gilson was placed in the 9th Light Horse Regiment, which was made up of mainly South Australian and Victorian volunteers. He left Australia from Melbourne on the 11th of February 1915 aboard the HMAT Karroo A10 and travelled to Egypt, where the regiment began their first training. Later that year, Gilson and his unit were sent to Gallipoli. Gilson was 

Gilson’s service records show that he was admitted to the hospital several times for malaria and fever between 1915 and 1917, spending time in military hospitals in Egypt and Palestine. These repeated illnesses reflected the harsh conditions soldiers faced while serving overseas during the war. While at Gallipoli Gilson was hospitalised due to illness and treated in Egypt. He recovered and his unit were part in defending the Suez Canal and then later pushed into the Sinai Desert. They were involved in battles such as the Battle of Romani in 1916 and frequently carried out mounted patrols, scouting, and combat operations.

In 1916 he was appointed Lance Corporal in June .

During early 1918 Gilson became unwell again and needed several days in hospital to recover, returning to duty 18 January 1918. He was sent to Rest Camp in Port Said in March for a couple of weeks. In April he was treated in hospital for nearly 2 months to recover from an infection. In late August he returned to hospital followed by time at Convalescent Depot in October and November.

Gilson was sent to the UK on the Hospital Ship Tagis from Port Said 9 July 1919. He returned to Australia on Hospital Ship Port Denison embarking 25 September 1919 and disembarking at Port Adelaide 10 November 1919. He was formally discharged 10 January 1920.

Sadly, Gilson died just ten years later, on the 11th of December 1930, at the young age of 39. He was buried at Payneham Cemetery in South Australia with his mother and one of his sisters, though his name is not listed on the headstone. He is commemorated on Scots Church Honour Board and 2 memorials in Birdwood.