Roy Erwin GILBERT

Roy Erwin GILBERT Update Details

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GILBERT, Roy Erwin

Service Number:	1643
Enlisted:	4 May 1916
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	40th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Cambridge, Tasmania, Australia, 4 March 1895
Home Town:	Cambridge, Clarence, Tasmania
Schooling:	Cambridge Primary School, Tasmania, Australia
Occupation:	Engine driver
Died:	Killed in action, France, 31 January 1917, aged 21 years
Cemetery:	Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres Plot IV, Row D, Grave No. 10. TO LIVE IN HEARTS WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cambridge Primary School Roll of Honour, Cambridge Uniting Church Honour Roll, Clarence Honour Roll

World War 1 Service

4 May 1916:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1643, 40th Infantry Battalion
1 Jul 1916:	Involvement Private, 1643, 40th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: ''
1 Jul 1916:	Embarked Private, 1643, 40th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Hobart

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Roy Gilbert was the son of Edward and Selina Gilbert, of Cambridge, Tasmania. He only joined the 40th Battalion in the front line twelve days before he died. Roy was killed when the Germans launched a heavy raid on the trenches held by the 40th Battalion. His older brother, Sergeant George Raymond Gilbert, an original Anzac with the 15th Battalion, died of wounds in France only three weeks later. Their mother Selina would have received telegrams notifying her of the deaths at about the same time.

She wrote to the AIF during March 1917, “re 1643 Pte. R.E. Gilbert 40th Battalion, I would like to know if he was killed instantly or did he live anytime after or is there a message that he left for me also my other son 1082 Sergeant G.R. Gilbert 15th Battalion, I would like to know how he was wounded and how long he lived after he was wounded and if he left any message for me, his mother, and will all their things that they had with them, that belongs to them, will they be sent to me….”

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