Introduction

Samuel John Gillim is remembered as one of the village’s war dead. He endured a turbulent childhood, including the death of his father from tuberculosis when Samuel was twelve. Following this tragedy, he worked as a farm labourer in Englishcombe and Hardington. In July 1915, he enlisted in the army, serving for two years before he was killed in action on 27 August 1917. His name is inscribed on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium

Birth

Samuel’s father, Samuel John Gillim, was born at Hardington in 1872.[1] In 1891, he married Annie Sartin, the illegitimate daughter of Fanny May Sartin.[2] Their first child, Samuel John Gillim, was born at West Coker on 30 December 1892.

Yeovil

After their time at West Coker, the family moved to Yeovil, where, in 1897, they lived near Prospect Place.[3] At that time, Samuel senior was a soldier.[4]

Hardington

By March 1901, the family had moved to North Lane, Hardington.[5]

Melcombe Regis

After his father’s diagnosis with tuberculosis, the family moved to the Dorset coast.[6] By September 1904, they lived at 15 Ferndale Road, Melcombe Regis.[7] Samuel senior died there on 9 April 1905, aged 35.[8] His widow remained in the Weymouth area and, in 1909, had a son with another man.[9] In April 1911, she lived in a single room at 18 High Street, Weymouth, with two children.[10]

Englishcombe

By then, her son, Samuel junior, had left home. In April 1911, he was working as a farm labourer at Englishcombe, near Bath, and boarding with a farm carter.[11]

Return to Hardington

In July 1913, Samuel stayed with his uncle, Charles Ernest Gillim, his father’s brother, at Hardington Marsh.[12]

Military career

Samuel enlisted in the army at Yeovil on 13 July 1915. He initially served with the Dorset Regiment before being transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.[13]

He was with the 1st 6th Battalion-Territorial when he was killed in action in Belgium on 27 August 1917.[14] His name is recorded on the Tyne Cot Memorial.[15]

References

[1] Civil Registration Birth Index: Samuel John Gillham, Yeovil Q4 1872.

[2] Civil Registration Marriage Index.

[3] St Michael’s, Yeovil baptism register.

[4] St Michael’s, Yeovil baptism register.

[5] RG13, piece 2297, folio 44, page 8.

[6] Their move appears to coincide with Samuel John Gillim being first diagnosed with tuberculosis, which, according to his death certificate, was in December 1903.

[7] Melcombe Regis burial register.

[8] Melcombe Regis burial register. The burial register and the Civil Registration Birth Index record his age as 35, but he was actually 32 at the time of his death.

[9] The child was named Albert Edward Towels Gillim.

[10] RG14, piece 12353.

[11] RG14, piece 14676.

[12] Western Chronicle, 18 July 1913, p.7.

[13] Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.

[14] Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.

[15] Find a Grave.