Pte 18990 Thomas Edward Gill

• Age: 26
• From: West Derby, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 20th October 1918
• Commemorated at: Canadian Cemetery No.2
  Panel Ref: 2.E.1

Thomas Edward Gilll was born on the 16th August 1892 in Tuebrook and was baptised on the 03rd September 1892 at St Catherines, Edge Hill, Liverpool. He was the son of Thomas Edward and Eliza Hope Gill, of 21 Halsall Lane, Formby, Liverpool who had married in 1888. Prior to the outbreak of war Thomas had been employed as a goods porter at Edge Hill Station.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 5 Park View, West Derby, Liverpool. His father, Thomas Edward, is aged 34, born 1867 in Liverpool and he is employed as a postman. His mother, Eliza Hope, is aged 35, born 1866 in Cumberland and has no occupation listed. They have three children at the taking of the census, James aged 10, born 1891, Thomas Edward aged 8, born 1893 and Eliza aged 3, born 1898. The children were all born in Liverpool. They also have a boarder living at the address, Thomas Powell a single man, aged 54, born 1847 in Chester and he is employed as a gardener (not domestic).

The 1911 Census shows the family have moved to 12 Cotswold Street, Kensington, Liverpool. His father, Thomas Edward now aged 44, is still employed as a postman. His wife Eliza Hope is aged 45, and has no occupation listed. She is also shown to have been born in Cockermouth. They have been married for twenty two years and have had three children. Their three children are all living at home, James aged 20 is an apprentice upholsterer, Thomas Edward aged 18, is an apprentice in a cabinet works, and Eliza aged 13 is at school. 

Thomas enlisted in Liverpool and was serving with the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 18890 when he was killed in action on the 20th October 1918 aged 26 during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918).  

He now rests at Le Canadian Cemetery No.2, Neuville-St Vaast, France.

The cemetery was established by the Canadian Corps after the successful storming of Vimy Ridge on 9th April, 1917 and some of those buried in the cemetery fell in that battle or died of wounds received there, though the majority of the graves were made later for the burial of the dead recovered from surrounding battlefields and from isolated graves which were transferred into the cemetery over a period of years after the Armistice.

The cemetery covers an area of 10,869 square metres and is enclosed by low walls of coursed stone.

There are nearly 3,000, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. 29 Canadian soldiers buried at the time in the 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade Cemetery, Givenchy-en Gohelle and the Canadian cemetery near Gunner's Crater, Givenchy-en-Gohelle but whose graves are now lost are commemorated by special memorial headstones, inscribed to this effect with the additional quotation, "Their Glory shall not be blotted out".

He is commemorated at Liverpool Town Hall and on Liverpool and North West Railwaymen Roll of Honour.

We currently have no further information on Thomas Edward Gill, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.