Name
William Harvey Gilbert
1875
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/10/1919
41
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
206454
Rifle Brigade
24th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOURNE END (ST. JOHN) CHURCHYARD, NORTHCHURCH
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
IN OUR MEMORY EVER DEAR
UK & Other Memorials
Sunnyside Memorial, Berkhamsted, Not on the Bourne End Memorial, Not on the Northchurch Memorial
Pre War
William Harvey Gilbert was born on 21 May 1875 in Poplar, the son of John and Eliza Gilbert (nee Mackenzie).
On the 1881 Census the family were living at 8 Glengall Road, Poplar, London where his father was working as a shoemaker.
He married Jessie Boxley in on 30 April 1901 at Stepney Register Office and on the 1911 Census he was living with his wife and children William, John, Leonard and Dorothy at 14-16 Burford Street, Hoddesdon, Herts and working as a bootmaker. He had an apprentice, William Payne, and boarder Thomas Bosley, who was a farm labourer.
He was living at 11 New Street, Great Berkhamsted at the time of enlistment in November 1914. He had been a volunteer with the Hertfordshire Regiment for three years prior.
Wartime Service
William enlisted on 16 November 1914 to serve with the Hertfordshire Regiment but was transferred to the 24th Home Counties Rifle Brigade on 30 October 1915, being promoted to Sergeant on 24 November 1915.
He served in India from 12 January 1916 to 1 September 1917. Upon his return to England he was discharged in London as sick on 25 October 1917.
He was awarded Silver War Badge No. 255774, which was issued in the United Kingdom and the British Empire to service personnel who had been honourably discharged due to wounds or sickness from Military Service in World War 1.
He died in Berkhamsted on 21 October 1919 and is buried in Bourne End (St John) Churchyard, Northchurch, Herts.
Additional Information
His wife, Mrs J M Gilbert, 11 New Street, Berkhamsted, Herts, ordered his headstone inscription: "IN OUR MEMORY EVER DEAR".
She was awarded a pension of £1 0s 5d a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
