BIRKBECK, Gilbert Samuel Colin Latona
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 August 1914, Brisbane |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 15 March 1876 |
| Home Town: | Mackay, Mackay, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Civil Servant - Stock Inspector |
| Died: | Natural causes , Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia , 15 December 1947, aged 71 years |
| Cemetery: |
Ayr Cemetery, Queensland Ashes interred at Grave 13A following cremation at Mt Thompson Crematorium, Brisbane. |
| Memorials: | Eton War Memorial, Mackay Old Town Hall Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, Brisbane | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Sep 1914: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 2nd Light Horse Regiment | |
| 24 Sep 1914: | Involvement Captain, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Sep 1914: | Embarked Captain, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Star of England, Brisbane | |
| 12 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 15 May 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Captain, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW right upper arm | |
| 29 Jun 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Captain, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW right eye | |
| 1 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Major, 2nd Light Horse Regiment | |
| 3 Mar 1917: | Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Egypt and Palestine - Light Horse and AFC Operations | |
| 6 Jul 1917: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, Egypt and Palestine - Light Horse and AFC Operations | |
| 13 Mar 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Major, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, HT Ulimoroa, Kantara for return to Australia - arriving Melbourne 14 April 1919 then to Brisbane. | |
| 29 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Major, 2nd Light Horse Regiment |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
The second of three children of Robert Epifanio Birkbeck, a clerk and his wife Francesca Julia Louisa Latona Clement (both of whom were born in Zacatecas, Mexico and came to Australia separately with their families in the early 1860s), Gilbert Samuel Colin Latona Birkbeck was born in Brisbane on 15 March 1876.
After leaving school, he joined the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Stock in 1900 as a stock inspector working at Normanton before transferring to Mackay. He married a widow, Annie Jacinta Mary Elizabeth Antony, who had three children, at Mackay in 1909 - they were to have a further three children.
Working in Mackay at the outbreak of war in August 1914 Lieutenat Gilbert Birkbeck was the officer commanding the 27th Light Horse Regiment. Along with 25 men from this group, the 38 year old headed for Brisbane early in September to enlist. He was posted to C Squadron of the 2nd Light Horse Australian Imperial Force - promoted to Captain he embarked for war on 24 September 1914.
After training in Egypt, the 2nd Light Horse Regiment embarked the SS Devanna at Alexandria on 9 May 1915 for the Dardenelles. Arriving off Gaba Tepe on 11 May to fight as infantry, the Regiment disembarked the following day.
Three days after landing at Gallipoli, Captain Birkbeck was wounded in the right arm on 15 May 1915 whilst leading an assault by C Squadron on Quinn's Post. He recovered in two weeks, but on 29 June he received a glancing wound to the right eye; an injury which required treatment in England. Returning to the Middle East in May 1916, the now Major Birkbeck was seconded to a training regiment.
In March 1917 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for ‘conspicuous gallantry in action. He displayed great initiative and excellent leadership in moving his squadron over most difficult country round the enemy left flank thereby materially assisting in the defeat of the enemy and preventing any escape’. Within a month he was convalescing again.
Late in 1917 Major Gilbert Birkbeck returned to the desert, specifically to the Desert Mounted Corps, following staff training. He was stationed at Beersheba. Thereafter, Birkbeck periodically assumed command of the regiment during the absence of its commander, Lt. Colonel GH Bourne. He returned to Australia in March 1919.
After World War 1, Gilbert Birkbeck went back to work as a stock inspector, being stationed at Mackay, Gympie and then Toowoomba in the interwar years. He retained his connections to the Light Horse, as a Lieutenant-colonel commanding the 47th Batallion between 1928 and 1933. Retiring to Toowoomba in 1942, Gilbert Birkbeck died on 15 December 1947.
Credit: http://queenswharf.org/people/gilbert-samuel-birkbeck/
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