2063
GILL, Melvin John
| Service Numbers: | 3241, S74891 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 April 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 8th (SA) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) |
| Born: | Bagots Well, SA, 5 May 1897 |
| Home Town: | Renmark, Renmark Paringa, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Adelaide, South Australia, 23 October 1945, aged 48 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Renmark Cemetery, S.A. Plot: Section New, Site 108 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3241, 32nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 3241, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Malakuta embarkation_ship_number: A57 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 3241, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Malakuta, Adelaide | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3241, 31st Infantry Battalion, Melvin John Gill was wounded in action on the 26th of September 1917. He rejoined the unit on the 18th of October 1917. | |
| 23 Feb 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3241, 31st Infantry Battalion, Melvin John Gill was wounded in action on the 23rd of February 1918. This was the second time he was wounded in action. He rejoined his unit on the 18th of March 1918 | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 3241, 31st Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Dec 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 3241, 31st Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 17 Apr 1942: | Involvement Lance Corporal, S74891, 8th (SA) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Renmark, SA | |
| 17 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lance Corporal, S74891 | |
| 2 Nov 1944: | Discharged |
Help us honour Melvin John Gill's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Renmark High School
Born on the 5 May 1897 in Bagots Well, South Australia, Melvin John Samuel Clifton Jubilee Gill served in both World War I and World War II. He spent much of his life in Renmark, South Australia, where he raised a family. He married Gladys Gill and was the son of Samuel Gill and Mary Bertha Gill. He had a son named Ross Gill.
Gill worked as a labourer before enlisting in the AIF. At the time of his enrolment, Melvin was 18 years and 10 months old, standing at 5 feet 6 ½ inches tall (172cm). He had brown eyes and brown hair. Melvin identified as following the Methodist religion.
On 20 April 1916, Gill enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), becoming a Private in the 32nd Infantry Battalion, with service number 3241. He embarked on HMAT Malakuta from Adelaide on 27 June 1916.
He was wounded in action twice. First on the 26th of September 1916 during intense combat, and the second on the 23rd of February 1918.
On 2nd September 1918 Gill was promoted to Lance Corporal and a couple of weeks later on 15th October was promoted to Corporal and was transferred to the 31st Infantry Battalion. He returned home disembarking 23rd October 1919, was discharged from World War I on 7th December 1918.
He was awarded a Military Medal in August 1918 for bravery in the field.
Gill reenlisted for World War Two on 17 April 1942 in Renmark, South Australia. He joined the 8th (SA) Battalion and held the rank of Lance Corporal. He served until his discharge on the 2nd November 1944.
Melvin passed away on 23 October 1945, at the age of 48. He was laid to rest at Renmark Cemetery.
Refrence List
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/201968085/melvin_john_samuel_clifton_jubillee-gill
Find a Grave. (2019). Melvin John Samuel Clifton Jubillee Gill. Retrieved from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/201968085/melvin_john_samuel_clifton_jubillee-gill [Accessed 21 May 2025].
https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/550323
Virtual War Memorial Australia. (2025). Melvin John GILL MM. Retrieved from https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/550323 [Accessed 21 May 2025].
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5100760
Terrace, V. (2025). View digital copy. [online] Naa.gov.au. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5100760 [Accessed 21 May 2025].
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1527946
Awm.gov.au. (2025). Melvin John Gill. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1527946 [Accessed 21 May 2025].
Click images to start slideshow.