Herbert Maidment Gilbert. Dorking Soldier. WW1

Herbert Maidment Gilbert
© Queensland State Library

Photograph courtesy of Royston Williamson

Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.

Herbert Maidment Gilbert was born on 12^thDecember 1895 in Brighton, Sussex to vanman James and Margaret Ann Drover Gilbert (nee Foster).

On 3^rd December 1900, Herbert was admitted into St Martin Church of England School for infants in Dorking. At the time of his admission the family lived at Curtis Gardens in Dorking. On 20^thApril 1903, he left to start at Dorking British School.

At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at New Buildings, 3 Station Road, Dorking. James was working as a labourer in a timber yard and Margaret was looking after their children: Ethel, Ernest and Herbert.

On 20^th April 1903, Herbert Maidment Gilbert was admitted into the Dorking British School. At the time of his admission the family lived at 4 Curtis Gardens in Dorking.

At the time of the 1911 Census, the family were still living at 4 Curtis Gardens in Dorking. James was working as a vanman and Margaret was at home. Of their children: Ethel was working as a laundry maid, Ernest as a waggon lad and Herbert as a telegraph messenger. The household further comprised of a boarder, waggon driver, George Stickels. Margaret stated that she had given birth to three children. The house had five rooms.

The family moved back to Australia about 1913.

Herbert Gilbert enlisted on 24^th July 1916 in Brisbane, Queensland into the 21^st Reinforcements of the 15^th Battalion, 4^th Infantry Brigade, the Australian Imperial Force. He was a Private with regimental number 6504.

At the time of his enlistment, Herbert was working as a cellar man. He had a medium complexion, brown eyes and dark hair. He also had two joints missing on the first finger of his left hand. At the time of his enlistment he lived at Pernberg Road, Milton, Brisbane. His next of kin was listed as his mother: Margaret Ann Drover Gilbert of Pernberg Road, Milton, Brisbane. Later, she resided at El Nedo, Montague Road, South Brisbane, Queensland.

Private Herbert Gilbert was part of the 11^th Depot Battalion from 7^th June 1916 to 24^th July 1916.
On 11^th August 1916 he joined the 21^st Reinforcements of the 15^th Battalion.
On 22^nd September he was admitted into the 13 Australian General Hospital with colic. He was discharged on 29^th September 1916.
On 21^st October 1916 he embarked on the HMAT Boonah from Brisbane, Australia to England.
On 10^th January 1917 Herbert disembarked at Plymouth. On the same date he marched out to the 4^th Training Battalion stationed at Codford, England.
On 26^th February 1917 Herbert wrote a will stating that in the event of his death Winifred Elsie Withall would receive £10 and that the remaining part of his property would be left to his mother, Margaret.
On 28^th February 1917 Herbert embarked on the SS Invicta from Folkestone to France.
On 1^st March 1917 he marched out to the 4^th Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples.
On 5^th March 1917 Herbert proceeded to join the 15^th Battalion, 4^th Infantry Brigate of the AIF. Two days later, on 7^th March 1917 he was taken on strength of the 15^th Battalion in the Field from the 21^st Reinforcements of the 15^th Battalion.
Herbert was wounded by a shell in an action on 15^th October 1917 in the Field. He had shrapnel wounds on his chest and a fractured femur.

DIED FROM WOUNDS

PTE. H. M. Gilbert

Australian Imperial Force

Pte. H. M. Gilbert, Australian Imperial Force, who died on October 18th, at the 10th Casualty Clearing Station in France from the effects of wounds sustained in action, formerly lived in Dorking, and was for some time a Post Office telegraph boy. His parents, who lived in Curtis Gardens, went to Brisbane, Australia about four years ago, and Pte. Gilbert enlisted there. He was 22 years of age.

On 16^th October he was admitted to the 3^rd Field Ambulance and transferred into the No 10 Casualty Clearing Station near Poperinghe in Belgium where he succumbed to his severe wounds on the same date.

Herbert Gilbert Lijsenthoek Military Cemetery Roll of Honour © CWGC.org

Herbert Gilbert Personal Headstone Inscription Report © CWGC.org

Herbert Gilbert Headstone © ancestry.co.uk

He was burried at the Lijssenhoek Military Cemetery in Poperinge, Belgium. His grave reference number is: XXI. E. 3. The headstone reads: “Dearly Loved Son and Brother“.

Herbert’s father James received the British War and Victory medals, the Memorial Scroll, the Memorial Plaque, and a booklet ´Where the Australians Rest´. His mother Margaret received her son’s personal effects including: letters, photos, two wallets, a religious book, metal wrist watch, gold ring, metal ring, silver locket, fountain pen and a mirror. As the next of kin she also received a photo of her son’s grave.

Gilbert Family History

Herbert’s father James was born on 29^th August 1866 in Brisbane, Queensland to William Dust Carrington and Jane Maidment. William and Jane married on 9^th February 1860 in Queensland. His mother Margaret Ann Drover Foster was born about 1866 in Brighton, Sussex to naval pensioner David Barry Foster, born about 1834 at Woodbridge, Suffolk, and monthly nurse Fanny Elizabeth Drover Foster, born about 1838 at Bognor, Sussex. James and Margaret married on 2^nd October 1889 in Queensland.

Herbert had two siblings: Ethel born about 1891 and Ernest born about 1893, both in Brisbane, Queensland.

Margaret Gilbert died on 26^th February 1924, and James died on 16^th December 1945, both in Queensland.

Born	Brighton, Sussex
Lived	Dorking, Surrey

Son of	James and Margaret Gilbert of ‘Einedo’, Montague Road, South Brisbane, Queensland, Native of Brighton, England

Regiment	15th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force
Number	6504

Date of Death	16th October 1917
Place of Death	Near Poperinghe in Belgium
Cause of Death	Died of Wounds

Age	21

Cemetery	Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium