Edwin Gilbert
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Edwin Gilbert was born in 1886 at Southwell and was the son of William a joiner and the late Edith Gilbert née Davenport of New Street, Southwell. His father William was born in 1847 at Caunton and his mother Edith Davenport was born in 1852 at Snitterfield, Warwickshire, she died in 1897 aged 50 yrs, they were married on 25th May 1874 at Snitterfield, and went on to have the following children, William Henry b1877 Caunton, Thomas b1879 Caunton, Edith b1881Caunton, Herbert b1882 Caunton, Robert James b1885 Upton, Edwin b1886 Southwell, Charlotte Nora b1888 Southwell, Ernest John b1889 Southwell and Harold b1894 Southwell. In the 1911 census the family are living at New Street, Southwell and are shown as William 64 yrs a widow and joiner, he is living with his children, Robert 26 yrs a plumber, Edwin 24 yrs a lace machinist, Nora 23 yrs, working at home, and Harold 17 yrs a lace machine fitter.
1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) Private Edwin Gilbert enlisted at Newark, resident Southwell. He died of wounds on 25th March 1916 at the No 3 General Hospital, Le Treport. He is buried in Le Treport Military Cemetery, Seine-Maritime, France (Plot 2. Row L. Grave 5B). CWGC - History of Le Treport Military Cemetery (extract). The coastal town of Le Treport is about 30km from Dieppe. 'During the First World War, Le Treport was an important hospital centre. No.3 General Hospital was established there in November 1914, No.16 General Hospital in February 1915, No.2 Canadian General Hospital in March 1915, No.3 Convalescent Depot in June 1915 and Lady Murray's B.R.C.S. Hospital in July 1916. These hospitals contained nearly 10,000 beds. No.47 General Hospital arrived in March 1917 and later that year, a divisional rest camp and a tank training depot were established in the neighbourhood. By March 1919, the hospitals had been closed.' (www.cwgc.org)
His brother Rifleman John Ernest (Ernest John) enlisted into the army as John Gilbert on 30th June 1906 at Newark, he gave his occupation as that of a lace hand, he signed on for 9 years with the colours and 3 yrs in the reserves. He served with the 1st battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps. He was embodied for war on 5th August 1914 and landed in France on 13th August 1914. He died on 4th November 1918 of pneumonia and is buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France. Newark Herald, 1 April 1916: ‘Southwell & District News. Pte E Gilbert Killed in Action. At the close of the service in the Minster on Sunday Evening, the rector said another local soldier had given his life for King and country, and the name of Private Edwin Gilbert would have to be added to the Minster Roll of Honour. Private (Tich) Gilbert was formerly an employee at the local lace factory. He had served his time in the local Territorial Force, but when war broke out and men were wanted he at once joined up and went through his training with the Sherwood Foresters. He had been through several big engagements, including the great fight at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, where so many local officers fell. The official intimation says that he was shot in the face last week, and as he got worse, his sister went over to France, but despite every care and the highest medical skill, he passed away on Saturday last.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
