Private Henry Herbert Gill, Service No. 62300, C Company, 30th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Regiment.
The last of my WW1 NZ badge collections to share is that of Private Henry Herbert Gill.
Henry “Bert” Gill originally from Grovetown near Blenheim, was a joiner by trade and was living and working as a carpenter in Hamilton when he married Francis Sophia Brewster on the 1st March 1916. Their daughter Nancy Erica Gill was born the following year on the 28th March 1917.
In July 1917 Bert Gill (conscripted by ballot) was called up for service as part of the Waikato (Quota) section of the Thirty-second Reinforcements. (Berts brother, William Gill (31490) also served during WW1.)
Private Henry Herbert Gill.
Date of commencement of service.— 15th June 1917. (Attached Thirty-second Reinforcements)
Posted to “C” Company 30th Reinforcements.— 26 July 1917.
Photo of Private Henry Gill
Reinforcement badges belonging to Private Henry Gill (Auckland War Memorial Museum Collection)
Embarked with “C” Company, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 30th Reinforcements.— 13th October 1917.
Disembarked in Liverpool.— 8th December 1917.
Arrived in Sling camp.— 9th December 1917.
Posted to 4th Reserve Battalion Canterbury Infantry Regiment.— 11th December 1917.
Embarked for France.— 14th February 1917.
Attached Canterbury Infantry Regiment.— 19th February 1917.
Posted to 1st Company, 2nd Battalion Canterbury Infantry Regiment.— 23rd February 1917.
Hat badge belonging to Private Henry Gill (Auckland War Memorial Museum Collection)
Wounded in action in France .— 26th August 1918.
Reported “Still dangerously ill, improving”.— 15th September 1918.
“In his final letter home, dated 30th September 1918, Bert was still optimistic about returning to his family, including the daughter who was just 6 months old when he left New Zealand in October 1917.”
Died of wounds at No. 8 General Hospital Rouen.— 2nd October 1918.
The following leather money belt (Auckland War Memorial Museum Collection) is described as being “probably acquired by Bert while in France.”
The inscription on the belt suggests that he had the belt prior to embarking for overseas.
The following links to badges collected by Henry Gill are well worth of a look, especially the second link.
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/?t=885
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/?t=819