William 'Billy' Gill
Birth date
29/05/1919
Death date
16/02/1945
Biography
Billy Gill was born in Shoreditch to Eugene and Ada Gill. Prior to his birth, in 1911 the family was living in Belmont Mansions on Goldsmiths Row.
Billy followed his father into the furniture trade, becoming an upholsterer, and began a relationship with Hackney dressmaker Lillian Dodd. Records state he enlisted in the army (The Royal Berkshire Regiment) at Hackney on 1 May 1939, prior to Britain declaring war on Germany.
Billy and Lillian got married in 1941 during the war, his pay book noting he had seven days leave from the army in May of this year probably to do so.
Billy died of wounds in Burma 1n 1945, less than 7 months before the end of the war. Lillian kept his personal effects from his time in the army as well as their unused wedding presents, which were later donated to Hackney Museum in 1994.
Billy followed his father into the furniture trade, becoming an upholsterer, and began a relationship with Hackney dressmaker Lillian Dodd. Records state he enlisted in the army (The Royal Berkshire Regiment) at Hackney on 1 May 1939, prior to Britain declaring war on Germany.
Billy and Lillian got married in 1941 during the war, his pay book noting he had seven days leave from the army in May of this year probably to do so.
Billy died of wounds in Burma 1n 1945, less than 7 months before the end of the war. Lillian kept his personal effects from his time in the army as well as their unused wedding presents, which were later donated to Hackney Museum in 1994.