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To [Vox?] Adelaide
Published in Adelaide Advertiser 1958
April 2d 1958

Lieut.-Commander J.H. Gill, R.A.N. (Retd.), of Cronulla, N.S.W.,
was born at Port Adelaide on 29th OCtober, 1879, son of J.H. Gill, master
mariner and fisherman. He was educated at Stansbury Public School on Yorke's
Peninsula (S.A.), and at the age of 14 joined his father's fishing cutter
(sail only) as one of the crew of three. In July, 1898, while still
serving in the fishing fleet, he joined the South Australian Naval Reserve
as an ordinary seaman. "We were called up for training for one month
anually, two weeks of which were spent at sea in the South Australian reserve
ship "Protector" (armament, one 8 - inch gun and five 6 - inch guns)," I
think this little ship (920 tons) was one of the wettest ships of my time.
At sea her decks were awash in moderate weather."

In 1900, when the Boxer rebellion broke out in China, the South
Australian Government lent the "Protector" to the Admiralty. She sailed for
China with 96 officers and men in August of that year, under the command of
Captain W.R. Creswell (later Vice-Admiral Sir Williamn Creswell, First Naval
Member of the Australian Naval Board). Now an able seaman, I was a member
of the crew. The "Protector" was employed almost entirely in the Gulf of
Pechili, carrying despatches and doing survey work. On 24th November, 1900,
she left Hong Kong for home; Creswell disembarked at Brisbane, to resume dity
as naval commandant in Queensland, and Captain Clare brought her back to
Adelaide, where the crew was paid off on 15th January, 1901.

(2 survivors only 1960
myself and Jack Gillis
of Adelaide)

To [Vox?] Adelaide
Published in Adelaide Advertiser 1958
April 2d 1958

Lieut.-Commander J.H. Gill, R.A.N. (Retd.), of Cronulla, N.S.W.,
was born at Port Adelaide on 29th OCtober, 1879, son of J.H. Gill, master
mariner and fisherman. He was educated at Stansbury Public School on Yorke's
Peninsula (S.A.), and at the age of 14 joined his father's fishing cutter
(sail only) as one of the crew of three. In July, 1898, while still
serving in the fishing fleet, he joined the South Australian Naval Reserve
as an ordinary seaman. "We were called up for training for one month
anually, two weeks of which were spent at sea in the South Australian reserve
ship "Protector" (armament, one 8 - inch gun and fice 6 - inch guns)," I
think this little ship (920 tons) was one of the wettest ships of my time.
At sea her decks were awash in moderate weather."

In 1900, when the Boxer rebellion broke out in China, the South
Australian Government lent the "Protector" to the Admiralty. She sailed for
China with 96 officers and men in August of that year, under the command of
Captain W.R. Creswell (later Vice-Admiral Sir Williamn Creswell, First Naval
Member of the Australian Naval Board). Now an able seaman, I was a member
of the crew. The "Protector" was employed almost entirely in the Gulf of
Pechili, carrying despatches and doing survey work. On 24th November, 1900,
she left Hong Kong for home; Creswell disembarked at Brisbane, to resume dity
as naval commandant in Queensland, and Captain Clare brought her back to
Adelaide, where the crew was paid off on 15th January, 1901.

(2 survivors only 1960
myself and Jack Gillis
of Adelaide)