John Ernest Gilbert
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Ernest (Ernest John) was born in 1889 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.
Rifleman John Ernest (Ernest John) enlisted as John Gilbert at Newark on 30th June 1906 on a 12 year engagement (9 years with the Colours and 3 years Reserve). He gave his occupation as that of a lace hand. John served with the 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps and was embodied for war on 5th August 1914. He landed in France on 13th August 1914. He died of pneumonia on 4th November 1918, seven days before the Armistice, and was buried in St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France. John qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of St. Sever Cemetery Extension (extract): 'During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city. Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.' (www.cwgc.org)
His brother Private Edwin Gilbert enlisted at Newark, residence Southwell. He served with the 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment and died of wounds on 25th March 1916 at the No 3 General Hospital, Le Treport, France (buried Le Treport Military Cemetery). CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'We give our brief farewell in hope and love'
