247165 Pte. Ernest Alfred Gilbert British Army 28th (Artists Rifles) Btn. London Regiment from:Acton, London (d.25th April 1917) Ernest Gilbert was born in Kensington in 1886, second of three sons to Richard and Susan Gilbert. The 1891 census shows that the family had moved to 13 Sugden Road, Battersea, Richard (11), Ernest (4) and Montague (1). By 1911 the family had moved to 57 Creffield Road, Acton; and Ernest (24) was working as a shipbroker's clerk. Ernest married Dorothy Herapeth on the 19 July 1913 but the marriage was anulled on the 11 January 1915.
Ernest enlisted on the 29th of November 1915 with the 28th (Artists Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment, embarking for France from Southampton on the 21st of April 1916 and arriving in Rouen the next day. He died on the 25th April 1917 aged 30 years. There is a page in his Army record which simply says, "Killed in the field (whilst undergoing Course of Instruction)". He is buried in the Chester Farm Cemetery, Belgium.
His records also show that his personal effects returned to his next of kin were: Letters, Photos, Pocket Case, Religious Medallion, Wrist Watch, Metal Watch, Gold Ring, Cap Badge, Torch, Pipe in Case, Fountain Pen and Metal Mirror. Sadly his father passed away in 1920 and his mother in 1921, so his medals were issued to his brother Montague in 1923.
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