Boxed set of navigational equipment : Lieutenant Commander J H Gill, RAN

Rectangular, lidded wooden box with dovetail joints. The lid and base are screwed to the frame. An inset oval brass plaque on the lid has been engraved 'J.H. GILL R.N.' Fitted with brass hinges, and lock and key with inset brass lockplate.

The inside of the lid, upper tray and ruler compartment are all fitted with dark blue velveteen. The upper tray has been equipped with fitted compartments for nine steel instruments, consisting of a long pair of steel dividers with removable attachment; matching pencil compass attachment and inking compass attachment; short pair of fixed dividers, small inking compass; small pencil compass; brass tube container with knurled finish for spare leads; inking pen with ivory handle; and a small adjusting wrench. All instruments have been engraved either 'J.H.G' or 'J.H. GILL' depending on size.

The upper tray lifts out to reveal two compartments, one of which contains a short wooden plotting ruler. The other compartment is empty, but probably housed a parallel rule or a logarithmic scale. An inscribed visiting card from Lieutenant Frederick Darley, HMAS Australia sits in the lower compartment (see REL34795.002).

John Henry Gill was born at Port Adelaide in 1879. He left school at fourteen to work on his father's fishing cutter and joined the South Australian Naval Reserve in July 1898. He trained aboard the South Australian Reserve ship Protector, and passed as an Able Seaman in August 1900. In the same period Gill saw his first overseas service when this vessel was temporarily commissioned as HMS Protector and sent to China as part of the Colonial Naval Forces assembled to quell the Boxer Rebellion. Upon their return from China the crew of Protector paid off in Port Adelaide in January 1901, and both ship and crew reverted to the South Australian Naval Reserve. Gill returned to his work in the fishing fleet, and continued his involvement in the Naval Reserve.

In July 1904 Gill signed on to HMS Katoomba at Port Adelaide as an Ordinary Seaman with the number ANF 257, promoted to Able Seaman the following month. In October 1905 he was transferred to the cruiser HMS Challenger, also on the Australia station.

In 1907 Able Seaman Gill travelled to England for training at the Gunnery School at HMS Excellent, Portsmouth. His posting after this period as a Leading Seamen Gunner's Mate included thirteen months aboard HMS King Edward VII, flagship of the channel fleet. Gill returned to Australia in 1910, and after a period aboard HMS Powerful, flagship of the Australian station, a short period aboard the depot ship HMS Penguin and the cruiser HMS Psyche, Gill returned to service in HMS Challenger. He then volunteered to return to England aboard HMS Gibraltar.

While in transit Gill was promoted to Petty Officer First Class. He began further training at the Gunnery School in December 1910, qualifying as a Gunner's Mate and Gun Layer First Class, whereupon he was appointed to the Gunnery School Staff as an Instructor. In January 1913 Gill was posted to HMAS Australia, returning to Sydney, but in April 1914 had travelled back to England for the purpose of training for Warrant Officer rank.

Gill returned to the Gunnery School at HMS Excellent June 1914. During this period he was tasked with the gunnery training for a group of Turkish naval officers who were being prepared for a ship that was being built for the Turkish navy. As rumours of war grew stronger, the program of instruction that Gill was providing was ceased. When war broke out the Turkish ship was retained by the Royal Navy and re-named HMS Agincourt.

In August 1914, Gill was promoted to Warrant Officer, and posted to HMS Benbow as the ship's Director Gunner when she commissioned in October of the same year. The Benbow became flagship of the Grand Fleet's Fourth Battle Squadron, and was Vice-Admiral Doveton Sturdee's flagship at the Battle of Jutland. Gill too served at the Battle of Jutland. He remained in the Benbow until April 1918, when he returned to Australia for six months leave.

Upon his return however, instead of proceeding on leave, Gill was appointed to the Naval College at Jervis Bay to relieve a Royal Navy officer who was returning to England. Gill was tasked first with supervising the college's third year cadets, and then with relieving the college's Cadet Gunner.

Gill's appointment to Jervis Bay was terminated upon his substantive promotion to Mate. He was eventually promoted to substantive Lieutenant in 1921 while serving in HMAS Melbourne. Gill was then sent to England for training upon his appointment Assistant Inspector of Naval Ordnance. He returned in July 1922, taking up his position at the Naval Armament Depot at Spectacle Island.

In September 1926 Gill accepted superannuation and became a civilian employee of the Commonwealth, Professional Officers' Division. He retired in 1946, but still worked periodically as a Master of a tug boat and ferry boat, and remained active in the fishing industry at Port Hacking, New South Wales.

• Business card : Lieutenant F C Darley, RN