stiletto_33853 Posted 24 December , 2005 Share Posted 24 December , 2005 Otho Claude Skipworth Gilliat was the son of the late Howard Gilliat, Esq., of the Old Hall, Stragglesthorpe, Newark. He was born 7th December 1881, and was educated at Eton, gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant on 9th March 1901, to the Regiment. He served with the 4th Battalion in the late phse of the South African War, viz, the operations in Orange River Colony (April to 31st May, 1902) and the operations in Cape Colony (April 1902) receiving the Queens Medal and four clasps. He was promoted Lieutenant on 12th April, 1904, to Captain 1st January 1911, and retired on 29th July 1911, after which he jojned the 5th (Militia) Battalion. Upon the war breaking out he rejoined the Regiment and was attached to the 1st Battalion and served with it in France and was killed in action on 30th October 1914, aged 32. Source: The Rifle Brigade Chronicle 1914. The Rifle Brigade Century states the calsps on his QSA were:- Cape Colony, Orange Free State and the 1902 clasp. Also mentioned in A Rifle Brigades Who's Who 1905 - 1963 but with no further information. Hope this helps Richard. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 24 December , 2005 Author Share Posted 24 December , 2005 Service record of the 1st Battalion. 30th October 1914. 7 a.m. Heavy bombardment of our trenches commenced; High Explosives and shrapnel fell very thick. At 7.15 a.m., the enemy's infantry began to advance in thin lines of skirmishers, our guns opened on them abd stopped them. The enemy appeared to try and collect in some dead ground about 300 yards to our front but our guns made beautiful shooting and they never came on at all. The nearest hostile infantry was never closer than 80 yards and then only a few men in one spot just South of the railway. The fight seemed to be fiercer on our left. At 1.15 p.m. the enemy's infantry retired but their guns continued to shell us all day. The night was quite quiet, the enmy digging new trenches. Captain Gilliat was killed. In an hour and thirty five minutes 195 H.E. shells fell close to the machine guns; result - 1 man slightly wounded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richy1968 Posted 24 December , 2005 Share Posted 24 December , 2005 Great stuff - many thanks - Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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