4456164 Pte R J Gill

Discussion in 'General' started by archivist, Apr 17, 2017.

  1. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    Can anyone identify the Regiment in which the above soldier served - just from his name and number? Many thanks
     
  2. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    The service number is from the Durham Light Infantry block of numbers and as it happens, the 9th Bn recruited in an area in which is situated a village called Rowlands Gill - nice place: Rowlands Gill - Wikipedia

    It's a regularly found surname in the North East of England, but not a common name. Had a mate at school with that surname.
     
    CL1 likes this.
  3. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Robert John Gill, he appears to have transferred to the West Yorkshire Regiment, died 6/12/1945

    Casualty Details
     
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  4. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Casualty List No. 1960 Dated 15 January 1946
    Far East Missing
    2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regt
    4456164 Gill Pte RJ 6.12.45

    Casualty List No. 2050 Dated 1 October 1946
    Far East
    Previously reported missing now presumed KIA
    2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regt
    4456164 Gill Pte RJ 6.12.45
     
  5. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    Thank you Steve Mac and Guy Hudson

    I live about half way between South Stanley and Rowlands Gill and know both places. Thank you for the information which confirms my interest in this as a piece of local history

    Neville
     
  6. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    Thanks to you also Tony56

    There's nothing like a complete story!
    Neville
     
  7. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    Pte Ronald John Gill's family have shown me the medals he was awarded and amongst them are two that just aren't his and they have no idea who they belong to but they appear to be 1st World War as they have a name and number stamped around the edges. This name was DVR (Driver?) G CROZIER 22023 Does anyone know where I might find out more about this man?
     
  8. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

  9. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    Thanks Guy Hudson,

    Impressive speed! Now all I have to do is find his family as they would like to get the medals back to his family. I believe they had a recruiting office and an encampment at Chester-Le-Street which is only a few miles from here.
    Neville
     
  10. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Interesting research background

    Looking at the date of Pte Gill's death,I wonder if his death was arose from the immediate chaos that followed the defeat of the Japanese. In Indonesia, the Indonesians sought independence and fought the Japanese who had a holding role until a Dutch administration could take over.

    To stablise the situation the British Army was sent in to achieve law and order.
     
  11. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    Thanks Harry,

    He was a local boy whose name I saw on a War Memorial on a recent visit to Singapore.
    Neville
     
  12. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
    Name: George Crozier
    Regiment or Corps: Royal Field Artillery
    Regimental Number: 220023, 752061
    30850_A000396-02612.jpg
    TD
     
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  13. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    Thanks TD

    I have been informed that his records were among those destroyed in WW2 bombing but I am intrigued by who he was, where he was from and why his medals were mixed with a group awarded to Pte RJ Gill who was very local to me up here in North West Durham.

    Neville
     
  14. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Neville

    I fear you are more than likely right about the 'burnt documents' - have looked again in vain.

    The only route would be to find/create his family tree but again there is very little to go on.

    TD
     
  15. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    There is nothing at all to go on! I have only the medals - the one in the document you sent and a General Service Medal from about 1920 (I think). I don't know where he lived or the names of any of his family.

    Neville
     
  16. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    The medals are already back with his `family` it appears ? George Crozier lived at 13 Jane St, Stanley, Co Durham he died on 17th June 1966 he bequeathed his possessions including £555 to Mrs Gill (Listed simply as a married woman),


    Kyle

    32858_625988_3305-00341.jpg
     
  17. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    Can't find any record of her marriage, but it could be his sister.

    Name: Alice Crozier
    Age in 1911: 18
    Estimated birth year: abt 1893
    Relation to Head: Daughter
    Gender: Female
    Birth Place: Stanley, Durham, England
    Civil Parish: Stanley
    County/Island: Durham
    Country: England
    Street address: 5 Peel Street West Stanley
    Marital Status: Single
    Registration district: Lanchester
    Registration District Number: 550
    Sub-registration district: Tanfield
    ED, institution, or vessel: 1
    Piece: 29852
    Household Members:
    Alice Crozier 48
    Henry Crozier 24
    Alice Crozier 18
    John Crozier 17
    George Crozier 15
    Margaret Crozier 12
    Sarah Crozier 10
    Hilda Crozier 8
     
  18. archivist

    archivist Well-Known Member

    To Kyle, that "Bit of a cad" - better known as superstar and that other superstar RCG

    I would like to thank you both for your contributions. Putting the two together may not seem much to either of you but to me, it is like stirring up a muddy puddle and coming up with a crystal clear picture
    I am not yet certain of the identity of "Mrs Gill" but that is the connection I so desperately needed. "Mrs Gill is obviously related somehow to Pte Gill who was the original reason for opening this thread. The address and date you have given me is astonishing because I know exactly where it is and it is just a couple of houses along from the address of a long term girlfriend of mine at exactly the date you mentioned. I cannot remember that family, but I would definitely have known them - amazing!

    RCG - the detail you have given definitely is the same family - the address you gave was in an area of Stanley that was probably the first to be demolished to, in the words of the song, put up a parking lot. It is just about a mile from the address given by Kyle and this street and others around it were filled up by people moved from Peel, Laxey, Ramsey, Douglas and other "Isle of Man" streets which were basically demolished slums in or before the 1950s.

    There was no husband on the list of people you gave but I believe he may have been killed in a pit accident or died of a coal dust related disease. I believe that the 15 year old George on the list is the man I am investigating and the man who died in 1966 mentioned in Kyle's information. Crozier is not a common name in this town and a George Crozier linked to the Gill I was investigating is obviously the man whose medals were found with Gill's.

    Thanks to you both and to everyone else who contributed. The family are really excited about this - none of those now living were even born in 1966 when George Crozier died.

    Thanks again to everybody who contributed.

    Neville
     
  19. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    1901 Census shows him alive:
    Name: Alice Crozier
    Age: 9
    Estimated birth year: abt 1892
    Relation to Head: Daughter
    Gender: Female
    Father: William Crozier
    Mother: Alice Crozier
    Birth Place: Stanley, Durham, England
    Civil Parish: Stanley
    Search Photos: Search for 'Stanley' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
    Ecclesiastical parish: Beamish St Andrew
    County/Island: Durham
    Country: England
    Street address:
    Occupation:
    Condition as to marriage:
    Education:
    Employment status:
    View image
    Registration district: Lanchester
    Sub-registration district: Tanfield
    ED, institution, or vessel: 4
    Neighbors: View others on page
    Piece: 4664
    Folio: 73
    Page Number: 13
    Household schedule number: 54
    Household Members:
    Name Age
    William Crozier 43 (therefore born abt 1858)
    Alice Crozier 39
    William Crozier 21
    Thomsina Crozier 19
    Agnes Crozier 17
    Henry Crozier 15
    Elizabeth Crozier 13
    Thomas Crozier 11
    Alice Crozier 9
    John Crozier 7
    George Crozier 5
    Margaret A Crozier 1

    TD
     
  20. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    This could be William
    William Crozier
    1857–1909
    BIRTH 1857 • Shoulder of Mutton Lane, Coxlodge, Northumberland
    DEATH 16/2/1909 • west stanley durham england

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    TD

    edited to add :
    West Stanley Pit disaster - Wikipedia
     

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