Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Father William GILBERT and Mother Amy HALL who married on 10th October, 1888 in Brompton, Kent, England

Family were living at Henry Street, Kogarah West, NSW. at time of enlistment
(May 1920 - Amy stated that her husband had been living in WA and had had no
 contact with her and had not been supporting, her or her two young children for some time).

Siblings:
Brother    Reginald Wiliam G Gilbert (living at Box Hill)
Sister      Eunice Eveline F Gilbert (Box Hill)

Sister:  Madeline Dorothy Lee (nee Gilbert)

Next of kin in service:
Brother-in-law     4212   Edgar Norman Lee   (KIA Mouquet Farm, Pozieres, France, 16/8/1916)

Described on enlisting as 19 years 9 months old; single; 5' 7 1/4" tall;
10 stone 9 lbs; fresh complexion; blue eyes; dark brown hair; Church of England.

21/10/1914   Completed medical in Melbourne - fit for service

22/10/1914   Enlisted in Melbourne, Victoria

18/1/1915     Commanding Officer appointed Leslie to 3rd reinforcements
                    14th Infantry Battalion, Broadmeadows Camp

19/2/1915     Embarked on board HMAT A54 Runic out of Melbourne, Victoria
                    as a Sergeant with the 3rd reinforcements, 14th Infantry Battalion

4/5/1915       Proceeded to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces, Dardanelles

19/8/1918     Court Martial at Anzac - due to leaving post in trenches, without permission

21/8/1915     Wounded (severe) - gun shot wound to right side of chest
                    at Gallipoli, Dardanelles
26/8/1915     embarked for England, from Mudros, on board Franconia
9/9/1915       admitted to King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London

20/1/1916     2.20am died of gun shot wound to chest & tuberculosis had set in
                                at King George Hospital, Waterloo, London, England

24/1/1916     1.30pm from the hospital
                    3.00pm Leslie was interned at 
                                Grave No. 32163,  Square 89
                                Nunhead Cemetery
                                Southwark, London, England, United Kingdom
                    Reverend I G Byrne, officiated at the grave

20/4/1920     Sergeant Gilbert's remains were exhumed
                    reburied in Grave No.6 in the presence of a Chaplain
                    Nunhead Cemetery

His name is located at panel 72 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial Canberra, ACT.

Medals:
1914-15 Star (9479); British War medal (8965); Victory medal (8922);
Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll (308410).

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  2/2/2015.  Lest we forget.

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland 

Died on this date – 20th January…… Leslie Raymond Talbot Gilbert was born at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England on 27th January, 1897.

According to information provided by his mother for the Roll of Honour – Leslie Gilbert came to Australia when he was 13 years old.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 22nd October, 1914 as a 19 year old, single, Wool classer from Walsham Road, Blackburn, Victoria.
On 21st October, 1914 Private Gilbert was posted to 14th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements. He was promoted to Sergeant on 1st December, 1914.

Sergeant Leslie Raymond Talbot Gilbert, Service number 1554, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Runic (A54) on 19th February, 1915 with the 14th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements.
On 4th May, 1915 Sergeant Gilbert proceeded to join M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) at Dardanelles.

He was found guilty & reduced to ranks by Field General Court Martial held at Anzac on 19th August, 1915. He was charged: “When on Active Service in the presence of the Enemy 15/8/15 left his post whilst in charge of a section of the trenches without Orders or permission from his Superior Officer.” Sergeant Gilbert was reduced to rank of Private on 19th August, 1915 by F.G.C.M. (Field General Court Marshal) This was confirmed by Brigadier General J. Monash, Commander, 4th Infantry Brigade, A.I.F. at Anzac on 30th August, 1915.

Private Leslie Raymond Talbot Gilbert was reported wounded at Dardanelles on 21st August, 1915. He embarked from Mudros on Franconia on 26th August, 1915.

He was admitted to King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England on 9th September, 1915 – wounded severe.

Base Records advised Mrs A. Gilbert, 10 Riverdale Road, Camberwell, Victoria on 7th January, 1916 that her son Sergeant Leslie R. T. Gilbert was seriously ill with gunshot wound to right chest at Isleworth, England. Mrs Gilbert was advised again on 13th January, 1916 that her son was still seriously ill. She was advised on 16th January that Sergeant Leslie R. T. Gilbert was progressing favourably.

Private Leslie Raymond Talbot Gilbert died at 2.20 am on 20th January, 1916 (a week before his 19th birthday) at King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England from wounds received in action at Gallipoli – gunshot wound(s) to right Chest.

He was buried in All Saints Cemetery, Nunhead, Greater London, England where 27 other WW1 War Graves are also located.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/nunhead.html