Next of kin plaque : Chaplain A Gillison, 14 Battalion, AIF

Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'ANDREW GILLISON'. The manufacturer's mark, a small 'W' within a circle, is stamped on the reverse.

Andrew Gillison was born at Baldernock, Scotland in 1868. He studied theology at university and after graduation accepted Presbyterian ministeries in Edinburgh, England, the United States and Glasgow. In 1903 he moved Australia, first to Brisbane to St Paul's Presbyterian Church, and then to St George's Church in St Kilda, Victoria, in 1909.

Gillison had served as a private in the Queen's Edinburgh Rifle Volunteer Corps in 1885-1887, and when he later accepted a church position in Glasgow took a keen interest in the welfare of the soldiers whose barracks adjoined his church. In Australia, he became a part time chaplain with the Australian Military Forces in November 1906. From 1909 he was chaplain to Victorian Scottish Regiment. He was appointed a chaplain captain (4th class) in the AIF on 23 October 1914, and, at his own request, was posted to the 14th Battalion.

The battalion left Melbourne on 22 December aboard HMAT A38 Ulysses. In camp in Egypt he conducted church services, took part in many training exercises, attended lectures, and acted as mess secretary and treasurer of the battalion's fund.

Gillison landed at Gallipoli late on the night of 26 April 1915, but the message ordering him ashore was a mistake and he returned to his ship, where he cared for the wounded and buried eight men at sea. He finally landed on the following morning, and is believed to have been the second chaplain ashore. He took up duty at a dressing station, comforting the wounded and burying the dead. The chaplains shared the work among themselves and used prayers from denominations other than their own if required. Soon afterwards Gillison joined his battalion at Courtney's Post. Coming under fire for the first time he found that it was possible to fit two men and a machine gun into a dugout space intended for one small person.

Together with other chaplains on Gallipoli, Gillison often found himself conducting burials at night, the only time that it was safe to do so. Burial working parties began at about 11pm and sometimes continued until dawn. On 24 May Gillison took part in the mass burial of the dead arranged by an armistice between the allies and the Turks. Of this experience he wrote, 'I never beheld such a sickening sight in my life and hope it may not be my lot again.'

On 21 August the 14th Battalion was involved in the advance on the left of Hill 60 (Aghi Dere). Gillison had been near the front of the fighting. In the morning he decided to bring in some of the dead. With him was non-combatant stretcher bearer Corporal Robert Pittendrigh of the 13th Battalion, a Methodist minister in civilian life, and Private Arthur Wild, also of the 13th Battalion. Advised by a medical officer not to proceed because the Turks had the area covered, Gillison heard a call for help from a wounded man from the Hampshire Regiment, who had been attacked by ants, and the three men decided to attempt a rescue.

They crept out in front and had moved the wounded man a short distance when the Turks fired. Gillison and Pittendrigh were hit. All three men made it back to the trench where Gillison collapsed. He had been hit between the shoulders, the bullet exiting near his heart. He was carried to16 (British) Casualty Clearing Station and remained conscious for a few hours, but died early in the afternoon. He was buried by moonlight at No 2 Post above Anzac Beach. Four chaplains, from all denominations, took the service. Pittendrigh died at sea on 29 August while being evacuated to Egypt.

Described as 'a model of Christian living', the 14th Battalion later considered that the death of its 'popular and heroic' chaplain was the greatest loss it had incurred in the death of any one man' on Gallipoli.

This commemorative plaque was issued to Gillison's widow, Isobel, in 1922. A gold ring that he had been wearing when he died was removed from his body, when it glinted in the moonlight, as his body was lowered into the grave, and forwarded to her as a memento.