S19917
GILBERT, Percy Edward
| Service Number: | 1709 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 May 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Port Augusta, South Australia, August 1894 |
| Home Town: | Mile End, City of West Torrens, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Messenger |
| Died: | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 14 May 1975, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (General) |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Attorney General's Department WW1 Honour Board , Gawler Council Gawler Men Who Answered the Call WW1 Roll of Honor, Gawler St George Anglican Church Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 11 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1709, 27th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 1709, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Kanowna embarkation_ship_number: A61 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 1709, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kanowna, Adelaide | |
| 6 Sep 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1709, 27th Infantry Battalion, Gunshot wounded scalp |
Help us honour Percy Edward Gilbert's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide High School
Percy Edward Gilbert was born in Port Augusta, in August, 1894. His mother was Ellenor Gilbert. Percy moved to 15 Victoria Street, Mile End with his mother, and worked as a messenger before being enlisted in the war.
Percy enlisted on the 11th of May, 1915, at age 20. He had past military experience (in the militia) and was still serving at the time of the AIF enlistment. Gilbert had been serving in the 76th Infantry Battalion and Citizen Military Forces. Gilbert embarked on the HMAT A16 Kanowna, on the 23rd of June, 1915. He had been assigned to the 27th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement. Percy was 5’ 5.75” tall and weighed 135lbs.
On the 6th of September, 1916 Percy was reported as being wounded. He was admitted to the Hospital of France with a gunshot wounded scalp, and was eventually transferred to Reading War Hospital, Reading, England. Percy was wounded on the Western Front, and his condition was mild. Percy never returned to the war after being wounded.
He returned to Australia on the 14th of January, 1919, on board HT ‘City of York.’ Percy received the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Star for his work as a Gallipoli Veteran.
Eventually, Percy Edward Gilbert fell in love and got married to Milly. They had four children; Evelyn, Jean, Doug and Angus. Angus unfortunately passed away before his father.
Percy Edward Gilbert unfortunately passed away on the 14th of May, 1975, at age 80. He was buried in West Terrace Cemetery.
Bibliography:
National Archives of Australia n.d., RecordSearch, viewed 22 May 2020, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=5033803&isAv=N>.
UNSW Australia n.d., Details - The AIF Project, viewed 14 May 2020, <https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=110644>.