Clarence Sydney Gill was born on 28 March 1890 in Fulham, the second of the five children of Charles Gill (b. circa 1864) and Alice Emilie Gill née Tisdall (1865-1959). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1890 in the Fulham registration district. On 1 June 1890 he was baptised in the St Dionis Church, 18a Parsons Green, Fulham, where the baptismal registers show the family were living at 38 Radipole Road, Fulham and his father was described as a gentleman.
The 1891 census confirms him living at 38 Radipole Road, with his parents, his elder brother Albert Charles Gill (1887-1916) and a female general domestic servant. His father was listed as a traveller in iron trade.
He was living at 50 Radipole Road, Fulham, when the 1901 census was undertaken. This shows him living there with his parents and three siblings: Albert Charles Gill, Gladys Haidee Gill (1892-1978) and Estelle Lilian Gill (1899-1971). His father was recorded as a gas inspector.
Having previously served as soldier in the 2nd (South) Middlesex Volunteer Rifle Corps, on 12 June1908 he enlisted as Private in the 13th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Kensington), service number 267, a Territorial Force regiment. He was promoted to Corporal on 8 April 1910, to Lance Serjeant on 31 December 1912 and to Serjeant on 20 March 1913.
When his father completed the 1911 census return form he is described as an electrical fitting salesman still living in the nine roomed property at 50 Radipole Road, with his parents and two sisters: Estelle Lilian Gill and Angela Ellaline Gill (1906-1990). His father described himself as of private means.
He embarked with his regiment from Southampton on 3 November 1914 to join the British Expeditionary Force in France. He was initially reported wounded and missing, aged 25 years, on 9 May 1915 in the Battle of Aubers Ridge, France, but it was not until 11 July 1915 he was listed as presumed killed in action. As he has no known grave he is commemorated on Stone 10M on The Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing, 7782 Comines-Warneton, Belgium.
On 6 October 1915 his army effects totalling £11-9s-2d were sent to his father who was also sent his £6-0s-0d war gratuity on 30 June 1919. He was posthumously awarded the 1914 Star with the 5th Aug-22nd Nov clasp, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as Gill.C.S. Sergt. 13th.Cty.Lon.Batt.K.R. on the Quebec Chapel War memorial and is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
