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Rob is listed as being killed in action on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The 11th Battalion war diary entries for the 1st & 2nd July are transcribed below.
War Diary Entries
Becourt 1.7.16 - 5am: Bn commenced to leave Becourt Wood and proceeded to jumping off places in Dundee Avenue, New Cut B & in Monikie Street.
7am: Bn all in position with Battn HQ in a dugout near junction of Dundee Avenue with Abroath Street and New Cut B. The Battalion was considerably delayed in getting into position owing to the right of the 102nd Brigade extending too far to the right.
7.28am: The mine opposite left of 101st Brigade was exploded.
7.30am: The Infantry Assault was launched. The Battalion followed the 10th Lincolns from our assembly trenches down into Sausage Valley and across to the German lines. Owing to the failure of the 102nd Brigade on the left to capture La Boiselle our advance from the moment it left our assembly trenches was subjected to a very heavy fire from Machine Guns from La Boiselle. In spite of the fact that wave after wave were mown down by Machine Gun fire all pushed on without hesitation though very few reached the German line.
Becourt 2.7.16 - 12.15am: A message was received by 101st Brigade from Capt. O.H. Brown, 11th Suffolks to the effect he was in Wood Alley with about 20 Suffolks and about 200 men of other units in the Brigade. It was due to Capt. Brown with the assistance of Lt. Robson, 15th Royal Scots that these troops consolidated in Wood Alley and entirely covered the left flank of the 21st Division.
Battalion HQ spent the day in assisting in the collection of wounded from our lines.
Letters & Eyewitness Accounts
A company commander who was wounded wrote:
“My very last memory of the attack is the sight of Gilson in front of me and CSM Brookes on my right, both moving as if on parade, and both only a minute or two later to be mortally hit.”
His Batman Albert Bradman, wrote to Rob’s stepmother, Donna, on 14th July:
“Mr Gilson was loved by all the men in the Platoon, and I may say Company, as he was a very good officer and a good leader.” He also wrote to Rob’s father, thanking him for “the legacy of £50 that dear Mr Gilson left me. It doesn’t seem true to me that he can be dead, but it is quite true.” His commanding officer remembered him, “advancing perfectly calmly and confidently…and [hoped] that death came quickly to him. Many times I was deeply touched by his desire to relieve me of some rather trying work, perhaps when he thought I was tired.”
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