GILL, Maurice William
| Other Name: | Hamburger, Maurice William - Birth Records |
|---|---|
| Service Number: | 3535 |
| Enlisted: | 5 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 58th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia, 1891 |
| Home Town: | Queenstown, West Coast, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Queenstown State School, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Blacksmith |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
New Irish Farm Cemetery Plot XXXI, Row F, Grave No. 16 (Remains discovered 1921) |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3535, Depot Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3535, 22nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3535, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Melbourne | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3535, 58th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3535 awm_unit: 58th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-19 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Maurice Gill enlisted with the 22nd Battalion during 1915 and was eventually transferred to the 58th Battalion during the reorganisation of the AIF in Egypt during early 1916. Maurice was posted as missing 19 July 1916.
Correspendence from his mother reflected the angst caused by long delays in confirming missing men as killed in action. In a letter received by Base Records, 6 September 1916, from Maurice’s mother,
‘Sir, re the wire I received from Hobart last Monday stating my son was missing 19th July, could you cable for me and find out for me when my boy was last seen or if there is any further information about him. Perhaps Sir, you have many of the same letters but I cannot rest night or day. The last letter I received was from Egypt saying he would write again when he reached new quarters. I feel sure that was in France and feel so anxious. If I could only hear, do try and do something for me…, thanking you, yours most faithfully Mrs. S. Gill, anxious mother.
P.S. If you could advise me sir any way what I could do or how to go about doing something to trace my boy.’
Almost 12 months later she wrote again, 31 August 1917,
‘Dear Sir, I feel very anxious and worried about my dear son, M.W. Gill, missing since 19 July 1916. He is missing now over 13 months…, I’ve been waiting day and night to know the fate of my boy, you kindly stated in your letter dated 12 September 1916, that I should be promptly communicated with any further news from overseas authorities to determine the fate of my son, yours faithfully S. Gill.’
Gill was confirmed by a Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 1 September 1916, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.
His mother again wrote to Base Records on 4 December 1917,
‘Dear Sir, I am writing to you re my dear son M.W. Gill, who was reported missing then killed in action on 19th July 1916. I feel sure you are doing all you can for me, if I could only know how he died and if he was buried, you may not understand a mother’s feelings but I cannot get any rest. I am always waiting thinking I may get some little token. He had my bible and photo which would be on his body. Surley he had someone near him in his Battalion, some one who saw him. I feel sad he is gone for our boy never missed his letters home. If I could only feel sure I would feel better but God knows I cannot hear any word of him….’
Gill’s remains were discovered during April 1921, confirmed by the presence of his identity disc. For whatever reason, he was reburied in the New Irish Farm Cemetery in Belgium, about 45 kilometres from Fromelles. The news was communicated to his family and his mother was sent his identity disc during May 1922.
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