GALE, Gilbert John
| Service Number: | 1038 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 February 1916, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Red Hill, South Australia, March 1871 |
| Home Town: | Red Hill, Mid North, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Mechanic |
| Died: | 3 May 1941, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section) Section: LO, Road: BN, Site No: 3 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1038, 43rd Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 1038, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 1038, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Gilbert John Gale was a middle-aged mechanic in his hometown of Red Hill in South Australia. He was a small, 5-foot 4 man who wasn’t married. However, this all changed when Gale enrolled for the Australian army on February 28th, 1916. He was enrolled into an all-South Australian battalion, the 43rd battalion. The 43rd battalion trained along the beaches of Adelaide ranging from Henley to Glenelg. A lot of their training was conducted in the sand dunes as well as some firing ranges for gun practice.
The Battalion left Australia on June the 9th of 1916. They were aboard the A19 Afric and arrived in England for further training. On the 25th of November 1916, Gilbert travelled from Southampton to France. In December of 1916, they combined with other battalions to form the 3rd division. This division moved to the Western Front where they saw their first action inside the horrifying trenches. Gale was in the frontlines for several months, apart from a brief period of leave.
On the 17th of July 1917, Gilbert John Gale was promoted to Lance Corporal. He continued to fight with his unit through 1917 and most of 1918, taking in part in several major battles.
On 29 September of 1918, Gale was badly wounded in the buttocks. He was transferred to a hospital close to the line, then he was eventually transferred back to England to get full and proper treatment. Gale would not return to combat.
Gilbert John Gale returned home from the war alive, however, it is unknown what he did in Australia upon his return. He died of an unknown cause on the 3rd of May 1941, aged approximately 70. He is buried in the cemetery on West Terrace in Adelaide where many other soldiers who fought in the war are buried.
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