John Henry (Jack) GILL

GILL, John Henry

Service Numbers: 257, 7420
Enlisted: 1 January 1898, Joined the South Australian Naval Reserves at age 18 years
Last Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Last Unit: Royal Australian Navy
Born: Port Adelaide, South Australia, 29 October 1880
Home Town: Stansbury, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Fisherman
Died: Natural causes, Newton, Sydney, New South Wales, 7 January 1971, aged 90 years
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials:
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Non Warlike Service

1 Jan 1898: Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman, Joined the South Australian Naval Reserves at age 18 years

Boxer Rebellion (China) Service

6 Aug 1900: Embarked Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman, HMCS/HMAS Protector, HMCS Protector

Non Warlike Service

1 Jan 1910: Involvement Royal Australian Navy, Leading Seaman, 257, HMAS Penguin (IV) 1939-1940/HMAS Brisbane 1940-1942/HMAS Moreton (I) 1942-1994 (Depot)
1 Dec 1910: Promoted Royal Australian Navy, Petty Officer, Royal Australian Navy, Sent to Whale Island, Portsmouth Harbour, Hampshire, England and qualifyed as a Gunner's Mate and Gun Layer First Class, whereupon he was appointed to the Gunnery School Staff as an Instructor until 1913

World War 2 Service

1 Jan 1913: Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Lieutenant Commander, HMAS Penguin (IV) 1939-1940/HMAS Brisbane 1940-1942/HMAS Moreton (I) 1942-1994 (Depot)
1 Jan 1913: Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Petty Officer, 7420
16 Oct 1914: Discharged Royal Australian Navy, Petty Officer, 7420

World War 1 Service

15 Nov 1914: Involvement Unspecified British Units, HMS Benbow (Gunner)

Non Warlike Service

1 Apr 1920: Promoted Royal Australian Navy, Chief Petty Officer, Royal Australian Navy, Returned to Australia after Armistice and rejoined the RAN and was appointed Instructor at Jervis Bay Naval College
1 Apr 1921: Promoted Royal Australian Navy, Sub Lieutenant, Royal Australian Navy, 12 month course in England to become Assistant Inspector of Naval Ordnance at Spectacle Island

World War 2 Service

11 Sep 1922: Discharged Royal Australian Navy, Lieutenant Commander, HMAS Penguin (IV) 1939-1940/HMAS Brisbane 1940-1942/HMAS Moreton (I) 1942-1994 (Depot)

Non Warlike Service

1 Apr 1929: Promoted Royal Australian Navy, Lieutenant Commander, Royal Australian Navy, (Retired List) Officially retiring in 1946

Help us honour John Henry Gill's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Paul Trevor

The following LINK (livesofthefirstworldwar.org) (tribute over three pages) by Lofty Batt outlines the military career of Lt.-Commander John H. Gill from enlisting in the South Australian Naval Brigade (Pre-Federation) for the uprising of "The Boxer Rebellion" in China of 1900's up until the conclusion of World War Two.

Another LINK (www.awm.gov.au) from the AWM website also shows the military career of Lt.-Commader John H. Gill.

Post First World War, in 1918, John H. Gill was appointed as an Instructor at Jervis Bay, Royal Australian Naval College and was later on 1 April 1920 promoted as Mate.

'In August 1920 the Director of Ordnance, Torpedoes and Mines proposed to the First Naval Member that the title of Inspector of Warlike Stores be changed to Assistant Inspector of Naval Ordnance, in line with Admiralty practice.

The Inspector of Warlike Stores at the time was LCDR Creber for whom, due to his age, a relief was urgently required. The replacement sought was a "Gunnery Lieutenant or Gunner with experience at sea as such, under 45 years of age, and should be willing to retire from the RAN on taking over his duty..." The pay at this time was £450 per annum with £50 allowance in lieu of house...1 years training in England was considered necessary. The selected applicant was Mr Gill.

"Commonwealth Navy Order 257/1920: With respect to Navy Order No. 202/1920, Mr John Henry Gill, Mate, RAN, of H.M.A.S. Melbourne, has been selected to qualify for the appointment of Assistant Inspector of Naval Ordnance."

- 1926 - AINO, Naval Armament Depot, Spectacle Island               - 1938 - Naval Ordnance Inspecting Officer Sydney                       - 1945 - Naval Ordnance Inspecting Officer Sydney

On the 1 April 1921 a promotion was gained as Lieutenant, followed by Lieutenant Commander (Retired List) on 1 April 1929.' SOURCE - RAN Armament Depots (users.tpg.com.au)   

 

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