Marriage Certificate
Probate details
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Edward Henry Gilbert is listed in the 1911 census as one of 17 children of whom only 10 survived. This appears to be inaccurate, as in 1911, eleven of his siblings were alive, all of whom reached adulthood. Of his known siblings he was the eldest of 6 sons and had 1 elder and 6 younger sisters.
His father Thomas William Gilbert was born January 28th 1853 and baptised, February 19th at St Botolph without Bishopsgate, in London's east end. His family was living at Dove Court, Finsbury, London in 1861 where his father, Edward Gilbert, was a painter (house), by 1871 he had brought his family to the north east, settling at Baker’s Entry, Brewery Bank, Byker, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. Edward Snr and son Edward Jnr were employed as packers, Thomas (17) worked as a turner, his brother Martin (14) as an errand boy.
Thomas William Gilbert was married in the parish of All Saints, Newcastle, June 29th 1875 to Esther Maria Ryles, employed as a servant. Their daughter Margaret Thirza Gilbert was born in 1876, Edward Henry 1877, baptised April 4th, Martin Frederick 1879 and Elizabeth Jane in 1881 whilst they were living at 11, Byker Buildings. Thomas William supported his family employed as a potter. Over the next 10 years Ether gave birth to a further 5 children, Sarah Spoors 1882, Esther Maria, March 23rd 1883, Moses 1886, Dorothy Annie, August 18th 1888, and Thomasina 1890. As number 11 Byker Buildings was no longer large enough for their growing family, as it was above a shop, they had moved by 1891, next door to number 9, Thomas’s employment was unchanged, he was now assisted in keeping the family by Edward Henry, employed as a grocer. Their son Charles Edward was born April 7th 1892, Thomas William in 1893, Ethel Maud 1894 who died within a few months and James Henry 1894. Esther Maria Gilbert nee Ryles died in 1902, aged 47 years, in 1911 widower Thomas William, listed in the census in error as married, was living in 4 rooms at 11, Byker Buildings and had taken over for his own account a grocers shop at 32, Gibson Street, assisted by Dora Annie (22) and Thomasina (20), Moses (24) was a shipyard labourer, Charles Edward (18) and Thomas William (17) were working as general labourers, also in the household was Martin Gilbert, grandson.
Edward Henry Gilbert had left the family home in 1898 after his marriage to ship captain Stoddart Nichols' daughter, 22-year-old Margaret Nichols, at St Silas Church, Byker, Northumberland. In 1901 they were living with their 2 children, Thomas William (2) and Stoddart (5-months), at 36, Stephen Street, Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Edward Henry was a grocers' assistant. Their daughter Esther was born in early 1911 whilst they were living in 4 rooms at 735, Scotswood Road, Newcastle, Edward Henry was employed by a publican as a manager.
Upon the declaration of war all regiment raised new battalions, amongst them, the 8th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers of the Kitchener’s New Armies. The regiment attached to the 34th Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division, departed to Gallipoli in July 1915 landing August 7th. In January 1916 it moved to Egypt forming part of the Suez Canal Defences and from where the division was withdrawn in July 1916 and sent to France as re-enforcements during the Battles of the Somme, attached to the Third Army in the front line, July 27th 1916.
Edward Henry had not been called upon to serve upon the declaration of war but enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in circa 1915 and departed for France joining the 8th Battalion in the field, on the Somme. They did not participate in any major battles until the Battle of Flers Courcelette, September 15th-22nd 1916 and the Battle of Thiepval, September 26th-28th. After the conclusions of operations on the Somme the 11th Northern Division moved to the Ancre sector in January 1917.
Acting Corporal 29080 Edward Henry Gilbert was killed in action January 3rd 1917. His sacrifice is recorded as one of 72,316 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval France, commemorating men of Britain and South African forces who were killed on the Somme before March 20th 1918 who have no known grave. Acting Corporal Gilbert was 39 years of age.
His brother Martin Frederick Gilbert received all monies due to him from the Army as his administrator, also as administrator set out in his brother’s will, personal effects in the sum of 502 pounds 4 shillings 10 pence (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) May 30th 1917. His awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal were sent to his widow Margaret at 113, Byker Bank, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
All the Gilbert brothers were eligible to serve during WW1, records have been found for Martin Frederick Gilbert Army Service Corps, Moses Ryles Gilbert Royal Artillery, Charles Edward Gilbert and James Henry Gilbert Northumberland Fusiliers. All survived the conflict.
Details of Edward Henry and Margaret Gilbert's children;
Thomas William Gilbert born, January 8th 1899 married in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland in 1922, Susannah Forster, born March 19th 1898. In 1939 they were living at 9.Beauley Avenue, Newburn where he was a baker and confectioner of bread and cakes. Thomas William Gilbert of 4, St. George’s Road, Bell Close, Lemington, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, died December 11th 1966, aged 66 years.
Stoddart Gilbert born circa 1901 at Heaton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. Stoddart Gilbert of 258, Hexham Road, Throckley, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, died November 13th 1958, effects in the sum of 2860 pounds 14 shillings 3 pence to his widow Margaret.
Details as regards Esther Gilbert born at Wallsend, unknown.
It should be noted the CWGC have listed this soldier as a full Corporal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest in Peace.
Edward Henry Gilbert is remembered at Byker on B95.07
