Name
Graham Sydney Gilbertson
19 July 1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/11/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn., attached to 7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 48 to 50 and 162A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Stained Glass Window, Hitchin Boys Grammar School, Holy Saviour Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Graham Sydney Gilbertson was born on 19 July 1898 in Hitchin, the second son of Dr James Henry and Beatrice Mary Gilbertson (née Wilder) who had married in Saint Botolph Aldersgate, City of London, 13 October 1885.
In 1901 the family were living at 103 Walsworth Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: James (40) and Beatrice (38). James was working as a surgeon. Their children were: Kathleen Elsie (6) and Sidney Graham (2 with names reversed). Two servants were present: Ethel M Edwards (23) and Daisy A Fane (18).
In his early years attended the Hitchin Grammar School Kindergarten. Whilst at the school, which was from 1908-1911, he showed himself as a boy of great spirit, well adapted to a life of action and possessing the physique to support it.
In 1911 the family were at the same address. Both parents were present, with James now listed as a medical practitioner. The census recorded they had been married for 25 years with 5 children, of whom 1 had died. Of the children listed above only Kathleen was present, Graham presumably away at school, however other were present: Herbert Marshall (24), Elsie (16) and James McMaton (9). A Violet Mary Roberts (24) was visiting as was Rupert Edward Sharve Waddington (24) and the two servants were Ethel Elizabeth Arnold (21) and Lily Andrews (20).
When he left school he went to H.M.S. ‘Worcester’ which was probably a training ship and he was recorded as a champion swimmer. In July 1915 he passed an examination for the Royal Naval Reserve, but was found to be colour blind and was rejected.
Wartime Service
He then began his army service as a Private with the Regimental Number 6417 in 1 Company ‘D’ Squadron of the Inns of Court O.T.C. on the 27th September 1915 and went to No. 14 Officer Cadet Battalion on the 27th December 1916. He was commissioned on the 25th April 1917 into the 4th Battalion and attached to the 7th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. It was recorded that he had been slightly wounded in the summer of 1917 in one of the German raids on the East Coast.
He went to France on the 6th August 1917. The 7th Battalion was in the 54th Brigade, 18th Division of XIX Corps and his death came at the end of the Second Battle of Passchendaele.
However, Scottish national records record him as a Scots Serving in Brigade of Guards and English Regiment - the Bedfordshire Regiment
At first he was reported "wounded and missing" in France, but it was later confirmed that he had been killed in action on the 28th November 1917. He had been killed by a machine-gun bullet.
The War Diary states that on the 28th November 1917 the 7th Bedfords were in the front line, in the area of Poelcappelle, having moved up from the Canal bank north of Ypres. No incidents were noted
He is remembered on Panel 48 of the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing in Belgium.
Graham’s Colonel wrote to his father “He is a great loss to the battalion, as he had turned out to be a splendid officer in every way.” first, he was reported "wounded and missing" in France, but it was later confirmed that he had been killed in action on the 28th November 1917. He had been killed by a machine-gun bullet.
Additional Information
His medal cards confirm that his father was J H Gilbertson of 103 Walsworth Road, Hitchin.
After his death his effects for 1917-18 were listed as £45 15s 0d, £27 9s 0d, £2 4s 1d and £6 17s 6d, and for 1918-1919 £8 10s 0d.
Graham’s death was reported as far away as Plymouth, as he was the grandson of the late General Sir Francis John Marshall and Admiral Sir Francis Phillips Marshall C.B. and nephew of Mrs Langford and Mrs Rowbottom, of The Place. St Columb Minor.
Graham’s cousin, A S Gilbertson of Mangrove, Hertford was reported missing in 1918 but appears to have survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
