Alfred Harry Gill (called ‘Harry’ by everyone) was born on Dundas Road in Hamilton, Canada on the 10th of January 1912. Harry was a second child to parents Alfred and Minnie, his elder sibling being his ‘big sister’ Rose, who was born in 1909.

Harry’s father Alfred was a labourer who’d married his mother Minnie in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England, on the 18th of May 1907.

What had taken parents Alfred and Minnie to Canada in the first place isn’t known. What is known however, is that the Gill family returned to England in December 1920; docking in Liverpool and travelling back down to Kidderminster, where they set-up home for a second time.

Young Harry clearly settled well in ‘Kiddy’ embracing life fully in the carpet town.

Indeed, when he left school he found work in the carpet industry and by the 1930s he was working as a cardax weaver, employed by Carpet Trades Ltd. of Mill Street (cardax being a weave structure which allowed the carpet's pattern to be seen from the reverse side).

Outside of work Harry was a keen amateur footballer, playing regularly in the Kidderminster and District Football League. He was also a very keen darts player, a sport that naturally involved him practicing regularly in the pub team he played for; most probably the Broadwaters Inn or maybe the Yew Tree.

Harry married his sweetheart Lilly Lench in 1936; Lilly was from Offmore Road in Kidderminster, the daughter of Albert Lench, a guard on the Great Western Railway. In the 1939 Register it confirms that Harry and Lilly lived at number 190 Sion Avenue in the Broadwater’s district of Kidderminster; they later moved to Jubilee Drive South.

Harry and Lilly had three children; the first was a baby daughter named Ann, she was born in 1938, then came David, a year later in 1939. The youngest of their children was Gerald, he was born in 1942 – by then, Alfred had been in the army for two years, proudly wearing the badge of the Worcestershire Regiment in his forage-cap.

Harry initially served with the 11th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment on home defence duties. There was an element of ‘learning-on-the-job’ throughout this period, with the newly-formed battalion growing in numbers and capability as the months passed.

At one point, having completed a spell of guard-duty on the east coast (with the prospect of a German invasion becoming ever-more likely) a senior officer was reported to have said:

“Had the enemy ever managed to make the crossing he would have found that particular portion of the coast held by a brave and determined unit, but sadly lacking in weapons and with little training or experience.”

Gradually however, Harry’s battalion became a strong, professional unit and records confirm the fine spirit of comradeship amongst the men and the determination to maintain regimental traditions; as time went by a real desire amongst the ranks to put the results of their training to the test and engage with the enemy was also clearly evident... 

The battalion was stationed in Northamptonshire until mid-1942, but then a flurry of countrywide postings saw Harry and his pals moved from base to base. 

Around this time, Harry would have been well aware of the horrors endured by the counties senior battalion, the 1st Worcestershire, whose defensive action at Tobruk had seen the battalion decimated with huge numbers either falling in action or being taken prisoner.

This was a terrible period for the Regiment although the regimental history confirms that:

“Officers who had watched the battle throughout the day through field glasses expressed their amazement at the toughness of the Battalion and were most impressed by the orderly withdrawal… The 1st Battalion Worcesters… true to the regimental motto, had stood ' firm' and borne the full onslaught of all the German armour that day. The Battalion had carried out its task and successfully covered the withdrawal of the 1st South African Division back to the Tobruk defences, and the 50th (T.T.) Division through Tobruk to Mersa Matruh.”

Fine words indeed, recognising the 1st Battalion's excellent work - but work which cost the Regiment dearly...

Back in Blighty meanwhile, Harry’s 11th Battalion had completed deployments in Ashridge, Ipswich, Colchester and Purley, before finally finishing up at Harrow.

One of the regular tasks on the duty-roster that Harry would have taken part in from the Harrow base, was the provision of a guard-force to defend Northolt aerodrome.

It was around this time that Harry’s battalion had to surrender its identity – but there were few gripes because the reason was regarded as just and honourable by all of the men…

It was decided that the 1st Battalion Worcestershire should be reformed after its mauling at Tobruk, and that the 11th Battalion should form the base from which to reform it.

On the 1st of January in 1943 therefore, at Pinner near Harrow, the 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment was reborn when a small cadre of two officers and ten men from the original battalion marched into the centre of the men of the 11th Battalion, carrying their Colours.

Harry's 11th Battalion was then disbanded and so became the new 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.

Harry Gill was now a 1st Battalion man... 

At the end of July 1942, Harry’s new battalion moved to Wanstead where it was posted to 214 Infantry Brigade of the 43rd (Wessex) Division.

With pressure building on the War Office to open a second front by invading northern Europe, this newly reborn battalion, joining a newly formed Brigade in an untested Division, would inevitably come under huge scrutiny. However, the 43rd Divisional Commanding Officer, Major General ‘Ivo’ Thomas, cared not a jot about scrutiny.

His service record throughout the Great War was exceptional and as CO for the 43rd Wessex Division, he would earn a reputation as:

“a fine and imaginative soldier who drove his troops hard in training and in battle…”

Harry Gill endured two years of extremely hard training under the direction of the 43rd Divisional Commanding Officer. He would also live through two months of extremely hard fighting when he got to Normandy…

1944:

The year started with Harry’s 1st Worcestershire Battalion being stationed in Hythe, undertaking training alongside armour; perfecting the art of infantrymen working in conjunction with tanks.

The battalion was now readying itself for the invasion of north-west Europe.

A strenuous fitness regime was introduced, within which Harry and his fellow footsloggers were limited to just two small meals a day, morning and evening, to prepare them for what was known would come later.

By the end of March the battalion was fully geared-up for action, with fresh training being delivered which enabled every man to step-into specialist roles should the need arise; the technicalities of mine-clearance were taught (both German and Allied) and mortar training was delivered to infantrymen (6-pounder and 3-inch). Nothing was being left to chance.

On the 15th of April, Harry and his oppos’ were transported to Heathfield Park, which was their tented concentration area for the forthcoming Operation Overlord.

Landing craft loading and un-loading training along with vehicle water-proofing became the daily routine for Harry. Other training included live-firing, rope climbing, swimming (in full kit) and street-fighting (which took place in bombed-out Eastbourne).

May came and Harry still had no idea what his battalion’s role in Overlord might be; it was only known that the 43rd Wessex Division would be a ‘build-up’ Division.

At least one thing was confirmed, Harry knew where he was headed; the issuing of a Michelin Guide Book for France somewhat gave the game away (although whereabouts in France was still top secret). 

Finally, on June the 6th, ‘D-Day’ happened, and it would have been as much of a surprise to Harry as it was to the general public, such was the shroud of secrecy that had been maintained around the landings.

It was then confirmed that the 1st Worcestershire would be ‘going over’ in three waves – the advance party on D+7 (the 13th of June), the Motor Transport party on D+10 (the 16th of June) and Harry’s marching party on D+12 (the 18th of June).

When Harry’s turn came, the cross channel voyage took longer than expected due to adverse weather conditions. Needless to say, the battalion NCOs ensured that the time was well-spent, with regular on-deck training and weapons cleaning. 

As their troopship (LST Canterbury) finally approached the coast of Normandy, Harry could see H.M.S. Rodney off the port side, firing furious salvoes towards the city of Caen; Harry would have looked-on in awe. He would also have seen numerous damaged landing vessels abandoned on the beach. The sea was extremely choppy, dog-fights were taking place overhead and seasickness was rife amongst the men - they were all happy when the order was given to prepare for disembarkation.

Finally, Harry and his pals of the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, set foot on French soil.

Their mustering point was a few miles off the beach, just west of the village of Crepon.

Harry and his ‘marching party’ met up with the advance party which had landed some five days previously and together, they awaited the arrival of the motor transport party - unaware that the poor MT lads were still on their transport-ship moored off the coast.

Eventually the MT party turned up, green in the gills from their overly long wait on a choppy sea.

Once mustered, orders were issued to apply pressure on the Germans by crossing the River Odon and then forcing them out of Caen (which had been a D-Day objective originally, but which hadn't been achieved; Caen was still in German hands).

To this end, the Division’s first objectives were the villages of St. Mauvieu and Cheux.

Cheux:

 The village of Cheux was first attacked by the Glasgow Highlanders who suffered considerable losses due to unknown minefields, German mortaring and artillery and then, stiff defensive fire from the occupying German troops.

As the Worcesters moved forward, they too were mortared heavily. Private Tom Perry, one of Harry’s 1st Battalion pals, later described the scene:

“…the noise came first, I was sure that a thousand gates on rusty hinges were being opened, the sound amplified a million times. I tried to claw myself below ground. The aptly named ‘moaning minnies’ those multi-barreled mortars. Trembling like a leaf, every shell Jerry had in France seemed to be dropping in our company area. If I get out of this, I’ll live for years.”

By the evening of the 26th, the 15th Scottish had forged a salient three miles deep and two miles wide in the German defences – the bloody ‘Scottish Corridor’- and by this time, the Worcesters were in Cheux.

A German mortar landed squarely on a Worcester’s planning-meeting, killing four officers; then one of the 1st Battalion Bren-gun carriers was also hit, killing all four occupants.

The taking of Cheux was a victory for the Division, but an expensive one for Harry’s 1st Battalion.

Mouen:

Harry’s Division was ordered to take responsibility for the three mile line between Coleville, south-east to Tourville and south to Baron, so on the 29th of June, Harry and his mates were in action all day. 

One of their key objectives was the taking of Mouen, a small hamlet a mile or so from the village of Coleville. Orders were issued to the 1st Battalion Worcesters to “attack at dawn.”

The Commanding Officer decided that the Worcesters should attack from the north, through open corn fields behind a creeping barrage of mortar fire.

Despite the Germans being well dug-in with tanks and artillery at their disposal, the attack was a complete success, led by Harry’s Regimental Sergeant Major, RSM Hurd, armed with just a shovel!

Once again, the battalion had paid for its success by taking losses – but after the action, the Divisional Commander, Ivo Thomas, described the Worcester’s capture of Mouen as:

“...one of the slickest attacks of the war…”

Fine words indeed from a man known for his dour demeanor and his dislike of unnecessary small-talk. 

Hill 112:

The German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel once said of Hill 112:

“…whoever holds Hill 112, holds the key to all of Normandy...”

Consequently, the fight for the high ground overlooking the city of Caen that Harry was about to endure, would become the scene of the fiercest battle of the whole campaign.

At 05:00 hours on July the 10th Harry’s brigade moved into the attack with the 1st Worcestershire taking up a position just south west of Chateau de Fontaine.

The going was difficult, with very little natural cover and constant enemy mortaring. Throughout that night Harry and his pals were under constant fire with battle raging all around them.

Although they’d been supported by a massive pre-attack bombardment, the British Churchill, Cromwell and Sherman tanks supporting Harry’s Division were no match for the Tiger tanks opposing them and the attack stalled.

Over the next few days, fierce battles continued across the whole front and every battalion in the Division became embroiled in the bitterest fighting.

For most of this period, Harry’s battalion was out in the open and under constant observation from the enemy. Any movement brought down terrific bombardments from German artillery and mortars.

For days on end, Harry’s battalion was constantly in action against the most determined enemy. Losses were terrible and the ferocity of the battle was taking its toll, causing one of Harry’s 1st Battalion mates to later write:

“On and around the time of Hill 112, I found life very upsetting. We never seemed to be out of the action. I remember a chap being evacuated with the shakes, so badly affected that he was unable to stand, trembling uncontrollably. This was a condition that I would later experience too…”

On the 22nd of July, Harry’s battalion was ordered to carry out a night attack to secure a patch of ground on the far side of the crest of Hill 112.

Initial progress was good but before long the Worcesters started to take terrible casualties as the Germans fought back from prepared positions which had not been identified prior to the attack going in. German Panzergrenadiers were lying in wait for them with machine-guns; the Worcesters had little chance.

The outcome was that although some companies did manage to reach their objectives, the attack had become disjointed, so when the enemy put in heavy counter-attacks, the Worcesters were forced back….

In their twelve days on Hill 112, Harry’s 43rd Wessex Division had suffered 7,000 casualties out of a total starting strength of 16,000.

Over 40% of the Division had been lost.

On the 23rd of July, orders were received, directing the Division out of the line, to a rest area at Jerusalem, some five miles south of Bayeux.

Jerusalem:

The rest area consisted of a large farmhouse and associated outbuildings. 

After the hell of Hill 112, Harry would have made the most of his time away from the front; he would most certainly spent the first day catching up on lost sleep, without having to worry about German mortars or hidden snipers…

The battalion Quartermaster however, would have been somewhat busier – making sure that ammunition and equipment supplies were brought back up to stock and that incoming reinforcements were in possession of the required kit.

A trip into Bayeaux would have been thoroughly enjoyable for Harry. Even though beer wasn't readily available, there was always Calvados to fall back on – and after a few glasses of the local firewater, falling backwards was what most of the lads did! 

Harry was looking forward to six days rest, it’s what he'd been promised, however, after just four, new orders were received by the battalion. They were to form up and head for a concentration area at La Paumerie, a mile or so north-east of Caumont. Their next objective was another strategically important feature of high ground - Mont Pinçon.…

Bluecoat:

Operation Bluecoat was the codename given to the British offensive to secure the road junction at Vire and the high ground of Mont Pinçon.

The operation was launched at short notice in a bid to exploit the successful ‘break-out’ by the Americans on the western flank of the Normandy beachhead, and to also take advantage of the fact that the 2nd Panzer Division had been withdrawn from the Caumont area and redeployed in an attempt to counter the American advance.

Hence Harry’s rest period in Jerusalem being cut short... 

Despite the good news of the breakout, it can be safely assumed that the Yanks probably weren't the flavour of the month with the Worcesters.

Just getting within sight of Mont Pincon proved to be a costly exercise for the 43rd Division, with Harry’s battalion having to fight all the way against dogged German defenders. Actions at the Canteloup Crossroads and the Bois du Homme (Point 361) had eaten up time and cost even more lives.

Early in the morning on August the 7th, after a night of mist and heavy, drenching, dew, Harry and his pals formed up in preparation for an attack on Condé-sur-Noireau. The attack was put on-hold however as fierce fighting was still taking place at the foot of Mont Pinçon and it was thought that the Worcesters might need to be redirected to help dislodge the stubborn German resistance.

However, Harry's battalion was eventually stood-down and a restful day was enjoyed - despite the ongoing noise of battle being clearly audible. 

At 02:30 hours on the 8th, battalion Intelligence Officers were summoned and informed that the battalion was to make contact with the 4th Wiltshire, which had taken heavy casualties in the previous day’s fighting. It was reported that the Wiltshires had forced the Germans out of their positions at the foot of Mont Pinçon and had in fact, reached the summit themselves.

A group of the 1st Battalion Intelligence Officers made their way forward, only to draw heavy artillery fire from the watching Germans, whose positions were still unknown.

The situation was somewhat confused, with the Worcesters trying to locate the battered but successful Wiltshires, whilst all the time, under bombardment from the displaced and vengeful Germans. 

As the sun rose on August the 9th, the German bombardment of British-held positions intensified...

It’s at this stage of the battle for Mont Pinçon that Harry was wounded, but the ongoing confusion appears to have blurred the circumstances of Harry’s final moments. It was recorded that he’d been put into a field ambulance, but nothing else is known, other than the fact that Lance Corporal Alfred ‘Harry’ Gill was later reported to have “died from wounds” on August the 9th, 1944.

Harry had been in Normandy for around two months and in that short time, he'd endured the campaign's fiercest fighting.

The Battle for Normandy had made Lilly Gill, the wife of a Canadian-born, Kiddy-adopted man, a widow - and had left their three young children without a father…

Today, Harry rests under a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) headstone in the beautiful war cemetery of Tilly-sure-Seulles. The personal inscription on Harry’s headstone, chosen by his widow Lilly, reads:

“ONE OF THE TRUEST ONE OF THE BEST NOW IN GOD'S KEEPING SAFE AT REST”

The cemetery contains 990 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 940 of whom are British.

Harry rests just a couple of rows away from another Kidderminster man, Private Edward Jones; he too fought with the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, he also died on August the 9th 1944. The two men were most probably killed by the same German barrage…

Back in Blighty, Harry is commemorated on the Kidderminster War Memorial, which is situated to the front of St. Mary and All Saints Church. Below the names of the fallen on this memorial, the following epitaph is inscribed:

“THESE DIED THE NOBLEST DEATH A MAN MAY DIE ~ FIGHTING FOR GOOD AND RIGHT AND LIBERTY ~ AND SUCH A DEATH IS IMMORTALITY”

Rest in Peace Alfred "Harry" Gill ~ your service and your bravery will never be forgotten ~ your sacrifice will be remembered For Evermore.

Acknowledgements: This story could not have been told were it not for the wonderful team at the Kidderminster Museum of Carpet; most especially Geoff, Jill and Jean. Very many thanks to you all. www.museumofcarpet.org.uk

Background information:

“The Fighting Wessex Wyverns” by Patrick Delaforce (Alan Sutton publishing Ltd. 1994. Stroud, Gloucs.).

“Lest We Forget” by Dennis Hodgkins MA (TJ International Ltd. 2018. Padstow, Cornwall).

“The First Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment in North West Europe” by Major D.Y. Watson (soft cover, no publishing details).