Current Information:

Age-20

Enlisted-Chelsea

Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-St Eloi, France

60th Division, made up entirely of 2nd line territorial battalions from London, went to France in June, 1916 where they remained until they were sent to Salonika at the end of the year. During the six months spent on the Western Front they were employed in holding the front line around Arras and were one of the few divisions in France to avoid the Battle of the Somme.

In July, 1916,  while the Battle of the Somme was raging a few miles to their south,  60th Division moved into a sector of the front line near Arras which ran that from Roclincourt on the right to beyond Neuville St. Vaast on the left and was overlooked practically from end to end by the Vimy Ridge. There were four British lines, the forward one termed the Observation line and consisting of strongly fortified individual posts. Communication trenches ran from Anzin, Maroeuil and St Eloi for over two miles and followed a tiresome winding route.

On 18th August, 1916 the 2/18th London battalion of 180 Brigade moved into the front line at St Eloi where they remained until relieved on 24th August. On 22nd August the battalion were engaged in consolidating craters in no-man’s-land during which three men were killed and another ten wounded. One of those killed was Frederick Gillings. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records the death as 27th August when 2/18 London was out of the front line but the Graves Registration Report Form confirms the date as 22nd August.