Name
Gerald Edward Hills
January 1886.
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/07/1917
31 years.
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
30779
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RAILWAY DUGOUTS BURIAL GROUND (TRANSPORT FARM)
IV. E. 17.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
"DEARLY BELOVED HUSBAND OF EDITH HILLS"
UK & Other Memorials
Breachwood Green Baptist Chapel Memorial, Breachwood Green, St Mary's Church Memorial, King's Walden
Pre War
Gerald Edward Hills was born in Kings Walden, Hertfordshire in January 1886 the son of Albert Hills (B 1843 in Kings Walden, Herts) a Wood Sawyer and Elizabeth (nee Field) Hills (B 1846 in Offley, Herts).
Baptised in St Mary’s Church Kings Walden, Herts, on 20th May 1888.
1891 Census records Gerald aged 5, at school, living with his parents, brothers William 18, Archie 13, Ernest 11 and Percy 8, in Heath, Breachwood Green, Herts.
By 1901 now aged 15 Gerald had left school and working as a Brick Carter, living with his parents, brothers, Archie 23 and Ernest 21, in Breachwood Green, Herts.
Gerald married Edith Wilmot the daughter of Joshua and Ellen Wilmot of Kings Walden, Herts, in 1909, the marriage was registered in Hitchin, Herts.
1911 Census records Gerald aged 25, married to Edith and they have a daughter Margery Edith 5 months, and living in Breachwood Green, Herts. His occupation is given as a Journeyman Brick Maker.
Wartime Service
Gerald enlisted in Ampthill, Beds. Posted to the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, with the service No 30779.
He was Killed in Action on Friday 20th July 1917.
He is buried in the CWGC Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm) West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Additional Information
Part of 54th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division, XIII Corps. (Part of the K2 Kitchener’s army). His effects of £1-19s-10d, pay owing and £4-10s-00d War Gratuity went to his widow Edith Hills. Extract from Battalion War Diary. 20-7-17. About 450 men sent up on working parties in the evening to Zillebeke Area carrying T.M. Ammunition etc. Casualties 11. At the time the Battalion was at Palace Camp, Oudendon.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Paul Johnson, June Colegrove, Mark Morgan
