Bertie  COUNTY  NC BIOS  Jillcott, Robert William "Bill" 

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Claudia J. Williams  claudia.williams@seymourjohnson.af.mil


This article was copied from the January 12, 2005 issue of the Bertie Ledger Advance.

ROBERT WILLIAM JILLCOTT


Robert William "Bill" Jillcott, a native of Roxobel, died January 2, 2005.

Robert William Jillcott, twin brother of Frances Jillcott
Benson was born three miles outside of Roxobel, North
Carolina on a small tobacco farm on Tyler School Road.
He and his sister Frances attended Tyler School for their
elementary years.  He graduated from the Roxobel Kelford
High School in 19??.

Because Bill and his parents saw education as the way out
of the poverty, the three of them worked hard so that
Frances could attend college.  Upon her graduation from
college in 1937, Bill joined the US Army.  Bill learned
the United States had been attacked while watching a film
stationed at Camp Jackson, South Carolina on December 7,
1941.  He became part of the training cadre at Camp
Jackson and later became an infantry officer after
graduating from Officer Candidate School.  

Under the command of LTG George S. Patton, Mr. Bill
Jillcott took part in the first successful landing on
North Africa during World War II.  Mr. Jillcott and his
platoon participated in numerous campaigns.

Following the battle in North Africa, he and his unit
fought in Sicily.  Due to heavy casualties, his unit was
transferred to an infantry division under General Mark
Clark.  His company escorted Ernie Pile and fought in
many battles in the Italian Alps.

At one point his division was held down for almost a week
by German artillery.  When Mr. Jillcott tried to locate
German spotters in a convent, he was severely wounded by
a white phosphorus artillery round.

Bill's recovery was difficult.  Following his injury in
1944 he slowly worked his way back to a stateside
hospitals.  He required numerous grafts as well as other
surgeries.  Finally, in late 1947 then Captain Jillcott
requested and was granted release from the US Army.

Bill returned to Roxobel to farm with his family.  In
1950 he helped build a house with his parents in which he
lived until just before his death.

Bill loved golf and remained an active charter member of
the Lasker Golf course, playing his last game in November
2003.

Information provided by Sykes Funeral Service, Inc.