Pension Card
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Edward Henry Gilbert, in some Army records listed as Edmund Henry, was born in 1877, wife Margaret born December 3rd 1875, only child, a daughter Esther Maria, born in the district of Tynemouth, Northumberland, October 3rd 1910.
Edward Henry’s military record has not been found, it is therefore difficult to follow his exact movements. Serving as Guardsman 26372, the equivalent rank of Private, he was assigned to the 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards, which had departed to France in 1915 where it formed at Lumbres near St. Omeri, August 15th 1915 with 2 battalions already at the front and 2 more from England, the 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division, it served on the Western Front for the duration of WW1.
Guardsman Gilbert joined his regiment at the front as of January 1916, however, the exact date is unknown. His regiment in 1916 participated during the Battles of the Somme at Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd, Morval, September 25th-28th where it captured Lesboeufs.
In 1917 the division moved to Belgium involved in fighting on the Ypres salient during the Third Battle of Ypres at Pilckem Ridge, July 31st-August 2nd, Battle of Poelcappelle, October 9th and the First Battle of Passchendaele, October 12th, all phases of the Battles of Passchendaele July 31st-November 10th 1917.
Wounded in action Guardsman Gilbert was evacuated back through the lines to Le Treport, a coastal town hospital centre of the 3rd, 16th and 2nd Canadian Hospitals, No 3 Convalescent Depot and Lady Murray’s B.R.C.S. Hospital, from where he could have been repatriated to the United Kingdom for further care and recuperation. Admitted to the 2nd Canadian General Hospital he succumbed to wounds sustained, October 31st 1917 and interred at Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport, Seine Maritime, France, grave VI. A. 13A. He was 40 years of age.
His widow Margaret received all monies due to him from the Army, a pension of 20 shillings 5 pence a week for herself and their child as of May 13th 1918 until October 3rd 1926 when her daughter would be 16 years of age, also his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at, Holmside, Northumberland Gardens, North Walbottle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. She commissioned and paid for an additional inscription to be added to her husband's military headstone, it reads, “Till The Day Dawns And The Shadows Flee Away Thy Will Be Done.”
Their daughter Esther Maria was married in 1939, Northumberland South, to Joseph Aiston, Esther Maria Aiston nee Gilbert of 258, Hexham Road, Throckley, Northumberland, died, September 16th 1979, probate, Newcastle, October 8th, 18 thousand and 43 pounds.
Details as regards the demise of Margaret Gilbert, unknown.
The CWGC have included this man with the rank of Private.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Edward Henry Gilbert is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
