servicenumber branch death_place death_date birth_place unit awards battles birth_date placeofburial rank image article_title name
2815 23px british army delville wood , france 27 july 1916 birmingham , warwickshire , england king 's royal rifle corps 30px victoria cross world war i 8 september 1879 delville wood commonwealth war graves commission cemetery sergeant albert gill vc.jpg albert gill
 albert gill
albert gill

sergeant albert gill -lrb- 8 september 1879 -- 27 july 1916 -rrb- was an english recipient of the victoria cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to british and commonwealth forces .
he was 36 years old , and a serjeant in the 1st battalion , the king 's royal rifle corps , british army during the first world war when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the vc .
on 27 july 1916 at battle of delville wood in france , the enemy made a very strong counterattack on the right flank of the battalion and rushed the bombing post after killing all the company bombers .
sergeant gill rallied the remnants of his platoon , none of whom were skilled bombers , and reorganised his defences .
soon afterwards the enemy nearly surrounded his men and started sniping at about 20 yards range .
although it was almost certain death , sergeant gill stood boldly up in order to direct the fire of his men .
he was killed almost at once , but his gallant action held up the enemy advance .
gill is buried at delville wood commonwealth war graves commission cemetery , somme , france .
