Gilbert, WL
(1895 - 1915)
Key Facts
DATE OF BIRTH:
12th March 1895
YEARS ATTENDED THE COLLEGE:
1907 - 1910
HOME ADDRESS WHEN AT THE COLLEGE:
31 Criffel Avenue, Streatham Hill, SW2
REGIMENT
23rd Battalion, London Regiment
FINAL RANK:
Private
DATE OF DEATH:
30th September 1915
AGE AT DEATH:
20
WHERE HE DIED (or was wounded)
Loos
LOCATION OF GRAVE OR MEMORIAL:
Loos Memorial. Panel 130 to 135.
Private William Leslie Gilbert
Born March 12th 1895, William was the eldest of seven children, four of whom were boys, of a civil engineer, also named William Gilbert, and his wife, Louise; he was the only son to attend Dulwich. After spending just over three years at the College he subsequently began to work as, at first, a draughtsman, before qualifying as an engineer, and then taking up a role at the British Thomson-Houston works at Rugby.
Shortly after war broke out, in September 1914, William signed up as a member of the 23rd Battalion of the London Regiment, going overseas with them in March the following year. He was involved in the capture of German trenches at Givenchy that June, and had subsequently become one of the Brigade’s grenadiers when, on September 30th 1915, he was killed by German shell fire whilst serving near Loos.
