SERGEANT 234085 WILLIAM GILL, 44th (MANITOBA) BATTALION CANADIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.


SERGEANT 234085 WILLIAM GILL, 44th (MANITOBA) BATTALION CANADIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. KILLED IN ACTION 23rd AUGUST 1917 AGED 28.





The slow progress made by the attacks on the Passchendaele Ridge encouraged the British High Command to consider more oblique means of weakening German resolve. It was hoped that attacks on other parts of the extended British front might divert German troops away from the Ypres salient.

The strong Canadian Corps, located in the Lens Sector to the north of Arras, was ordered to mount an attack in this former mining area which would force the Germans to sent troops to defend. In mid August 1917 the Canadian mounted a series of assaults against the enemy front line.

One such attack was made by the 44th Manitoba Battalion against a position called the Green Crassier which was in reality a heavily fortified slag heap. the attack began at midnight and despite early success ended in failure as the defending Germans hiding in hidden strongpoints attacked the Canadians from the rear. In all the 44th Battalion suffered over 230 casualties including William Gill who was killed.

Born in Ilkley in 1889 William Gill was one of eight surviving children of Thomas and Helen Gill. the family lived at Silverwell Cottage at Hollin Hall where Thomas worked as a gamekeeper. In 1908 his elder sister Agnes had married and together with her husband emigrated to Winnipeg in Canada. A couple of years later William joined his sister living at 422 Beverley Street in the city where he was employed as a technical chemist.

William enlisted into the Canadian Army on 28th February 1916 and arrived in England later that year. Promoted to the rank of sergeant he served with the 44th Battalion throughout the spring and summer attacks.

Sadly Sergeant William Gill has no known grave and is commemorated on the Canadian Memorial to the Missing at Vimy Ridge (see photo below) and remembered with pride on our war memorial in Ilkley.


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