1923 – Admiral Gilly

Visit to Monument 11 January 1923

Rear-Admiral Eugène Louis GILLY

Gilly was born on 1 March 1868 at Audierne (Finistère) and entered the Navy in 1884.

He was appointed Midshipman on 5 October 1887 and was promoted Sub‑Lieutenant on 4 January 1887, being based in Lorient.  In early 1892, he was posted to the battleship MARCEAU, part of the Western Mediterranean and Levant Squadron, and became a torpedo specialist. Two years later, in 1894, he became second‑in‑command of the torpedo boat LANCIER, part of the Northern Squadron.  He was promoted Lieutenant on 25 April 1896. In January 1897, he became second‑in‑command of the cruiser ECLAIREUR, part of the Far Eastern Naval Division. Two years later, in 1899, he was posted back to Lorient. In January 1900, he became an officer-student on board the gunnery school, COURONNE, following which he qualified as a gunnery specialist. The following year, on board the same ship, he commanded the section chiefs’ squad.

In January 1902 he was posted to the coastguard battleship VALMY, in the Northern Squadron. The following year, in January 1903, he became ADC to Vice-Admiral Eugène Marchal, commander-in-chief of the Far Eastern Squadron, flying his flag in the armoured cruiser MONTCALM. Gilly was then appointed chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur. On 1 January 1904, he was on board the battleship HENRI IV, part of the Northern Squadron. On 9 November 1905, he was appointed Secretary to the Chief of Staff of the 1^st Naval District at Cherbourg. On 10 January 1907, he was appointed to command the destroyer BELIER, in the Northern Squadron.

On 1 July 1908, he was on the staff of the 3^rd Section (Operations) of the Naval General Staff. He was promoted Commander on 29 November 1910 and later served in the battleship PATRIE, as assistant to the chief of staff, for gunnery, of the Second Squadron. On 1 November 1913, he was appointed commander of the sloop CHAMOIS, at the School for Pilots at Toulon. He was promoted Captain on 23 March 1916. He was awarded the Officier of the Légion d’Honneur as well as the Croix de guerre.

He commanded the Navy at Saint-Nazaire from 15 July 1916 until he was appointed to command the battleship JEAN-BART, part of the 2^nd Battleship Division of the Mediterranean Squadron on 1 January 1921. He was promoted Rear-Admiral on 12 November 1921, and the following year was appointed to command the flying squadron of the Atlantic Fleet, flying his flag in the cruiser VICTOR-HUGO.

He was advanced to commandeur of the Légion d’Honneur in 1923, finally becoming grand officier.

Admiral Gilly died on 19 December 1946 in Paris.

1925 – Aldebaran
14 July 1925

1929 – Croiseur Tourville
September 1929

1930 – M.M. Raoubot Eridan

Visited 23 March 1930 and plaque affixed 27 March 1930.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1931 – Be Patrix
January 1931

1938 – Jeanne d’Arc
February 1938

1938 – Rigault De Gen
February 1938

1940 – Dumont D’Urville
March 1940