[1] Born in Patiala State on 11 December 1920, Gill studied at Government College Lahore.

A passionate flyer, he earned a flying licence at Walton Airport in Lahore, and in 1942, without informing his family, joined the Indian Air Force.

He was subsequently sent to attend the Long Gunnery Staff Course at the Army School of Artillery in Deolali, qualifying as an instructor.

Seeing action in the Sialkot sector, during a battle he personally led a mission to retrieve four of his guns which had been cut off by the enemy.

[1] He was promoted to Colonel on 19 June 1968 (seniority from 24 May),[7] and was appointed a sector commander in the Assam Rifles, stationed at Ukhrul in Manipur.