Military History

Gilbert is listed as being killed in action on 21 Feb 1915, the following is a precis of the war diary from the 20th & 21st Feb 1915 with the kind courtesy of Kingsley Remembers.

21st Feb 1915 - It had been suspected for some days that the enemy was running a sap at the bottom of the ditch and a close observation had been kept on it, but no sign of anything of the sort had been discovered.  It turned out afterwards that the enemy had really dug a sap half way down it, but had turned off at a sharp angle and continued the sap underground until it ran under the centre of the trench of D Squadron, and that three mines had been placed at the end of it.  It was afterwards ascertained from prisoners that the mines had been laid some days before the 16th had taken over the trenches, but that the explosion had been delayed with the intention of catching the relief when they were taking over on the 18th, but the opportunity had been missed.

At 6.00am on the 21st one mine was fired, followed immediately afterwards by the other two, with the result that the trench was completely destroyed.  The enemy followed this up with a strong attack on the trenches on each side of that held by D Squadron.  There was of course much confusion and a hand to hand combat, in which the enemy was finally driven back by A Squadron and the reserve troop of D with a machine gun.  A counter attack was made by the three reserve troops.  They were unable to regain the lost trench, and a request was sent to two companies of the French Infantry which were in support of the left section of the trench, but these refused to move without orders from their own commanding officer, and when he came up he was unfortunately killed while giving the order to advance.

No further attack was made until 9.00am when the line was reinforced by a Squadron of the 20th Hussars and another company of French Infantry from the supporting line.  The French were stopped at once by the heavy fire they were met with, all their officers and half their men being shot down in a few minutes.  The 20th got a little further when they were bought up by enfilade fire and the attack was broken off.  No further attempt was made to regain the lost trench, but a new one was dug in rear of it.  This was the worst day which the 16th had during the whole war.  When the roll was called it was found that Major Neave, Capt Nash, Lt’s Beech, King and Cross and seven men were killed and Lt Patrick and 29 men wounded.  In addition Lt Ryan and 11 men were missing.  In all seven officers and 47 other ranks were killed, wounded or missing.