Colonel Sir William A Gillett TD
Commanding Officer - The East Surrey Regiment
Commanded 5th Bn The East Surrey Regiment from August 1920 to 9th April 1924.
William Alan Gillett was born in 1879 and educated at Marlborough College. He joined the Streatham Detachment of 2nd Vol Bn The East Surrey Regiment renamed in 1908 as 5th Battalion in 1898. In 1911 he was promoted major and was second-in-command of the Battalion in August 1914.
In September 1914 he was appointed to raise, train and command the 2/5th Battalion. After the Battalion had been disbanded he was attached in May 1918 to the 1st Battalion in France and then commanded 11th Bn The Somerset Light Infantry.
In August 1920 he was appointed to raise and command the reformed 5th Battalion. He retired on 9th April 1924 having completed his tour of command. From 15th October 1927 to 29th January 1935 he held the appointment of Honorary Colonel of the 5th Battalion. He was a Solicitor and was President of the Law Society in 1948/49. He was knighted in 1949.
He died on 18th February 1959 aged 80.
An appreciation of his service is set out in the Journal of The East Surrey Regiment Vol III No 63 February 1935 page 25.
For obituary see the Journal of The East Surrey Regiment Vol VIII No 4 May 1959 page 120
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