Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Petty Officer E. Gill, Royal Navy, who was accidentally killed by a revolver shot while serving in Q-Ships in September 1917

1914-15 Star (234725 E. Gill, L.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (234725 E. Gill, P.O., R.N.), lacquered, very fine or better (3) £100-120

Ernest Gill was born in Stepney, London, in September 1889 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in September 1905. A Leading Seaman serving in the destroyer H.M.S. Ardent on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he remained similarly employed until coming ashore to an appointment at the gunnery training establishment Excellent in April 1915. Having then served in the accommodation ship Terrible (September 1915 to January 1916), and back at Excellent, he returned to sea with appointments in the destroyers Observer and Paragon in the period June 1916 to January 1917. Shortly afterwards, he entered the clandestine world of Q-Ships, serving in the Puma (a.k.a. Q-36 and Peveril) from April 1917 up until his untimely demise on 24 September of the same year. On that date, as stated on his service record, he died from wounds at the R.N. Hospital Plymouth after the accidental discharge of a revolver contained in the haversack belonging to a colleague. He is buried in Islington Cemetery; sold with copied service record.