Edward Gill

Edward H. C. Gill (1879 – 1923), often known as Ted Gill was a British socialist activist.

For the New Jersey politician, see Edward K. Gill. For the English Canadian author and Anglican priest, see Edward Anthony Wharton Gill.

Born in Leominster in Herefordshire, Gill's family moved to Abertillery in Wales when he was ten years old. He left school and began working, becoming a coal miner five years later.[1] Despite his shyness, he came to prominence in the South Wales Miners' Federation, which sponsored him to study at Ruskin College from 1907 to 1909.[1][2] While there, he was a founder member of the Plebs' League, and thereafter frequently spoke in favour of workers' education.[1][3] He also joined the Independent Labour Party (ILP) and devoted much time to the party,[4] arguing in favour of the nationalisation of the mines.[5]

Like the majority of the ILP, Gill initially opposed World War I, stating that "unless strenuous efforts are made to organise anti-war feeling, we are on the eve of a holocaust too terrible for contemplation". However, within days he changed his mind, joining the 10th South Wales Borderers. Unexpectedly, he received a commission as a second lieutenant, and also qualified as a machine gun instructor before sailing to France at the end of 1915. While in the trenches at Festubert, he crawled into no man's land three times, to organise a retreat of troops at the advanced posts, and then to rescue an injured soldier, for which action he was awarded the Military Cross.[1] He was badly wounded at Mametz Wood, but was said to have leapt from a stretcher to rally the troops he was leading.[1][2] As a result of his injuries, he was invalided out, with the rank of captain.[1]

After the war, Gill suffered ongoing poor health.[2] He devoted his time to the Labour Party,[4] standing in Frome at the 1918 United Kingdom general election. Although he did not win the seat, the party saw his potential as a propagandist, specifically to counter the charge that the party was unpatriotic. For the 1922 United Kingdom general election, he worked with J. W. Kneeshaw and W. F. Toynbee, speaking across the country, with his focus being the south west of England. He also stood again in Frome, this time taking 48.8% of the vote and a very close second place.[6][2]

Gill travelled to campaign for the Labour Party in the 1923 Morpeth by-election, but the strain on his health led to his death.[2]

References
  1. Evans, Jonathan. "Website launched to remember World War One heroes". WalesOnline. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  2. "Obituary". Annual Report of the Labour Party: 82. 1924.
  3. Evans, D. Gareth (2000). A History of Wales, 1906-2000. University of Wales Press. p. 76. ISBN 0708315941.
  4. "Obituary". Annual Report of the Independent Labour Party: 36. 1924.
  5. Campbell, Alan; Fishman, Nina (2016). Miners, Unions and Politics, 1910–1947. Routledge. ISBN 1351917382.
  6. Swift, David (2017). For Class and Country: The Patriotic Left and the First World War. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 116. ISBN 1786940027.
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