On the Vis-En-Artois Memorial, France is the name of 202735 Private George Gilboy, serving with the 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment who died 30/09/1916.

Colin McMillan has provided the following:

In 1891 George Gilboy was the youngest child of 36 year old Edward Gilboy, a printer, and 32 year old Mary Thompson Gilboy. George was 1 year old and had several siblings: Sarah J Gilboy (12), Mary Lizzie Gilboy (10), Catherine Gilboy (7) and Edward jnr Gilboy (4). Every member of the family was born in Morpeth and they lived at 17 Oldgate, Morpeth.

By 1901 the family had moved to 4 Challoner Place, Morpeth and had been joined by four more children: James Robert Gilboy (8), Harriet Gilboy (8), Winifred Gilboy (5) and Gilbert Gilboy (2), all born in Morpeth. Of George’s older siblings only two were employed. Catherine, now 17, was a general domestic servant and 13 year old Edward was a mineral water factory man.

In 1911 the family were still at 4 Challoner Place. Georges older siblings had left home and George himself, now 21, worked as a bottle filler (aerated manufacturing). James Robert who was 18 worked as a law clerk and Harriet, also 18, was a shop assistant. James also served in the war, as a gunner in the Royal Artillery. He was discharged in March 1918 as being unfit for the army due to VDH (Valvular Disease of the Heart). He survived, and he died, aged 77, on 27th January 1970.

George Gilboy was killed in action on 30th September 1918.

He is remembered at Morpeth on M17.01, M17.09, M17.17, M17.29 and M17.31