Gill, WGO

2nd Lieutenant William Gerald Oliver Gill

Born May 26th 1895, Gerald was the elder of two children born to insurance firm manager William Gill and his wife, Louisa; his younger brother Roy would also go on to attend the College. Having joined in the summer of 1909, having previously been at Brightlands, Gerald was a boarder in The Orchard. During the latter part of his time at the College he became a distinguished sportsman, being a member of the 1st XI for cricket in the summers of both 1912 and 13, and in the autumn of the latter was a member of the 1st XV, as well as the 1st VI for gymnastics, before leaving Dulwich that Christmas. He subsequently went to Germany for several months in order to continue his studies. By May he had returned to England and had taken up employment with Slater & Company, a city-based firm of chartered accountants. His cricket career during this period was not limited to playing for the College: in the summer of 1913, whilst still a pupil, he had turned out for a Young Surrey side at The Oval, and in the summer of 1914, playing for Dulwich Cricket Club, he put up one of the highest batting averages on the London club circuit.
When war was declared Gerald joined the Inns of Court O.T.C., soon being promoted to Sergeant. In March 1915 he took a commission in the Essex Regiment, with whom he was to spend the next year still in England. In the spring of 1916 he went abroad for the first time, to Egypt, where he worked as a wharf master near the Suez Canal. In January the following year he and his regiment where part of the advance into Palestine, being pressed into service at the First Battle of Gaza. On 27th March 1917, he was killed whilst attacking a Turkish trench on Ali Muntar Hill, aged just 21.