George Gills was the 2nd son of John Gills, a miner of Bishop Auckland, and his wife Margaret, daughter of George Etherington, Bishop Auckland.
George was born in Bishop Auckland on the 1st August 1871 and was educated at Bishop Auckland Board School. He was employed at the Hylton Colliery.
He married at St. Mary's, South Shields Isabella Ann who lived at Clive Street, Southwick-on-Wear, and who was the daughter of William Stevenson of Seaham.
George enlisted on the 4th June 1915, and was killed in action on the 2nd August 1915 aged 42 years. He was buried in the Canadian Cemetery at St Eloi, Belgium.
He left 6 children, Margaret Jane born 29th October 1891, John William born 19th December 1893, George born 13th July 1898, Isabella born 16th April 1899, Emily born 4th June 1903 and Robert born 2nd March 1913.
The CWGC entry states he was the father of Mrs. M. Clarke, of 93, Thomson's Avenue, New Edlington, Doncaster.
172nd Tunnelling Company was first employed in the Bluff/St Eloi areas at Ypres. The Company focused on the Bluff when 175th Company extended its area to Hill 60 in July 1915. Relieved 181st Company in Rue du Bois area in March 1916, but soon moved back to the Bluff. Moved to Neuville St Vaast/Vimy in April 1916. March 1918 saw the Company working on a new defensive line on the Somme, near Bray St Christophe. It fought as emergency infantry near Villecholles, and carried out a fighting retreat. In April 1918, troops of the Company fought a large fire in Amiens.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
Source: The Long Long Trail
George Gills is remembered at Castletown on C124.01 in Sunderland in S140.048 part 7, page 145, S140.048 part 10, page 206, and in S140.048 part 12, page 265 Also on the Tunnellers' Memorial located at Givenchy
