Herbert James Gilbert
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- Born
- Unknown - Unknown
- Died
- Unknown - 22 March 1918
- Age
- 26
- Death
- Killed in action
- Served in
- Rifle Brigade
- Awards
- British War Medal & Victory Medal, Mentioned in Dispatches
- Memorials
- Unknown
- Lived
- 56A Rathbone Street, Canning Town
Herbert James' story
The bell says J H Gilbert.
Entered France on 26 June 1916.
On 22 March 1918 the 16th Battalion, in which Herbert Gilbert served, was holding a series of trenches east of the village of Saulcourt (Somme). The Division in front began to withdraw and the Battalion was ordered to cover its retirement. By early afternoon the Battalion was virtually surrounded by the enemy but no orders were received to withdraw. At 4.30 pm the Germans opened an intense bombardment which inflicted very heavy casualties. At 5 pm the order was finally received to withdraw. On completion of the withdrawal, when the troops were reorganized and mustered it was found that only 54 men had survived.
Also commemorated on the Memorial at Stratford School, Upton Lane.
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