BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Lieutenant Tom Gillman (killed in action in France on July 14) was educated at the George Street School, and afterwards at the Otago Boys' High School (1909-1911), continuing later as a law student at the Otago University. His school career was marked with many successes, both as a scholar and in the realm of sport. At the George Street School he eventually became dux, and at the High School he was always well up in all classes; he passed the matriculation examination, and at the time he volunteered, he was halfway towards his LL.B. degree. Always a keen athlete, he was prominent in the O.B.H.S. at swimming and field sports, and as a member of the shooting and football teams; afterwards he was a member of the Anglican Harriers Club. Gillman had always a liking for military matters. Shortly before war was declared he passed his examination for a commission and was appointed Sergeant Instructor to Senior Cadets. His first application for inclusion in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force was refused as he was under age. Directly his 20th birthday was passed, he again volunteered and was appointed Second-lieutenant to the Third Reinforcements. He fought through the Gallipoli campaign, and was promoted to first lieutenant while there. This promotion was formally gazetted in March 1916. During some time of the later days on Gallipoli, Lieutenant Gillman was acting O.C. of the North Otago Company. Lieutenant Gillman was the eldest son of Mr S. Gillman, George street North, and he was a grandson of the late Mr Jas. Irvine. -Otago Witness, 2/8/1916.
The "Online Cenotaph," to which I am constantly indebted for photographs like the one above, has a remarkable set of images relating to Thomas Gillman.
Thomas was killed in action on the first trench raid conducted by the Otago Regiment after its arrival in the French zone of operations after leaving Gallipoli.. The Otagos' Official History describes it as follows:
In accordance with the promulgated policy of aggressiveness and general scheme of raiding, it was decided that 4th (Otago) Company would on the night of July 13th carry out a raid against the enemy's trenches. The objects of the raid were to obtain information, to harass and mystify the enemy, and to inflict as much harm upon him as possible. The personnel of the raiding party, all told, comprised six officers and 175 other ranks, this number including the assaulting parties, parapet and flanking parties, and the other details of raiding organisation, the whole under the command of Captain W. D. Jolly. Under the prearranged plan scouts and parapet party were to move out from the sally-port 45 minutes before zero hour and the flanking parties fifteen minutes before that time, and take up their positions in shell-holes with the object of protecting the flanks in the event of a counter-raid. The scouts were then to return and lead out the remainder of the raiding party to a concealed position in front of and distant 150 yards from the line to be assaulted. Our artillery was to open with a slow rate of fire 10 minutes before zero, at which moment artillery and trench mortars were to open with full intensity over the enemy's trenches and wire entanglements. Twenty minutes later the trench mortars were to direct their fire against the flanking trenches, while that of the artillery was to be lifted, thereby forming a semi-circular barrage round the area to be assaulted. Scouts and parapet party were then to rush forward, the scouts' duty being to ascertain the condition of the wire, return and lead the raiders through the gaps. The parapet party was to cross the enemy's trench and bomb suspected shelters in rear, while the assaulting parties were to work along the trench itself in four different sections. Meantime, the two flanking parties, facing half-right and half-left respectively, were to guard the flanks from our side of the enemy's wire, while special detachments were to watch the flanks from inside the wire. The 8th (Southland) Company was to provide a patrol to cover the right flank of the raiding party, the 10th (North Otago) Company acting similarly in respect of the left flank. All these duties were made perfectly clear and familiar by practice and training, and nothing was left to chance so far as preparation was concerned in order to ensure the success of the operation. But, alas, through some tragic cause, the whole affair was to prove a ghastly and expensive failure.
During the afternoon the enemy had carried out a certain amount of artillery fire which had all the appearances of a ranging shoot. The misgivings and suspicions aroused in not a few minds by this action were later only too fully confirmed. Every man was in his position in No Man's Land at the appointed time, and the artillery support was forthcoming as arranged. But no sooner had our barrage lifted and the raiding troops proceeded to move forward than a concentrated and murderous shrapnel and machine gun fire fell like a thunder-clap over No Man's Land between our front line and the objective. Under this withering and devastating blast the raiders vainly endeavoured to press forward. The casualties became increasingly heavy; all the officers were either killed or wounded, and when finally the order came to withdraw, merely a handful of men remained to stagger back to our lines. The whole affair was a tragedy; and though no definite information could, of course, be obtained on the point, the natural conclusion come to was that the enemy had secured warning of the raid, and the 4th Company walked into a trap only too well prepared.
Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.
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