Everard Gilbert

Everard was the son of Everard Leivers (or Leavers) Gilbert and his second wife Ellen (née Dale). Everard Leivers was born in 1844, the son of John Gilbert, a police constable, and his wife Harriet. The family was living on Milton Street, Nottingham, when Everard was baptised at Nottingham St Mary in 1850. Everard married Julia Jennison at Nottingham St Saviour on 26 December 1881. Everard and Julia had one child, John Jennison (b. Bulwell 1882). Julia died in 1885 aged 25. Everard (42) married secondly Ellen Dale (37), a hosiery maker-up, who was the daughter of Thomas and Emma Dale. They were married at Nottingham St Ann on 28 August 1886; Everard was living at 5 Rose Street, Nottingham, and Julia at 7 Rose Street. The couple had three children: Everard b. Nottingham 1887, Julia b. Bulwell 1889 and Harry b. Bulwell 1890. In 1891 Everard, a brass finisher, was living with his wife and three children at Mosley Street, Basford. His son John Jennison (8) was living with his maternal grandfather, Thomas Jennison, an inn keeper, and his unmarried daughter Jane, at the Horse Shoe Inn, Highbury Road, Bulwell. Ellen Gilbert died in 1893 (reg. J/F/M Basford) and her younger son Harry probably died in the same registration period. By 1901, Everard snr. was living with his son Everard (13), an errand boy, at Brown Buildings, 3 Terrace Street, Nottingham. His daughter Julia (11) was living at 9 Great Freeman Street, Nottingham, with her maternal uncle, James Dale and his wife Emma. Ten years later in 1911, Julia, a hosiery hand, was living on Vicarage Street, Nottingham, with her widowed grandmother, Emma Dale. John Jennison Gilbert has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census but he died in 1902 aged 20. Everard snr. died in 1905. Everard jnr. (22), a lace dipper, married Beatrice Elizabeth Foley (b. Nottingham March 1890) at Nottingham Holy Trinity on 16 May 1910. He was living at 1 Forest Yard, Sherwood Street, and she at 2 Forest Yard. Everard and Beatrice were living at 32 Raglan Street, Nottingham, by the time of the census in 1911. Their daughter Gladys Beatrice was born in June 1911 and they probably had a second daughter, Gwendoline, who was born in 1913 but died in 1915. The later CWGC record gave Beatrice's address as 1 Colville Villas, Sherwood Street, Nottingham. Beatrice died in February 1968. Her daughter Gladys married Cyril Woodward in 1936; she died in 1989.

1901 - errand boy. 1911 - lace dipper (lace finishing)

Enlisted Nottingham

2/7th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) The 7th Notts & Derbys replaced the Robin Hood Rifles (raised Nottingham 1859 as part of the Rifle Volunteer Corps) on the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908. During the First World War the 7th Battalion formed three battalions, 1/7th, 2/7th and 3/7th, which served in Dublin during the 1916 uprising and on the Western Front. The 2/7th Battalion served in Dublin from April 1916 then moved to France in February 1917 under order of 139th Brigade 46th (North Midland) Division. The 2/7th Battalion was absorbed in the 1/7th Battalion in January 1918 to become the 7th Battalion (178th Brigade 59th Division) and in the May was reduced to cadre strength. Everard was wounded in action and taken prisoner. One record erroneously gives his date of death as 21 March 1918 and he may have been reported missing in action on that date, the first day of the German Spring offensive (Operation Michael) during which the 7th Battalion saw action at the Battle of St Quentin (21-23 March). Everard died of wounds on 28 March 1918 at Limburg/Lahn Prisoner of War Camp, Hesse. He is buried in Denain Communal Cemetery, France (grave ref. B55). CWGC - History of Denain Communal Cemetery (extract): 'Denain was a German hospital centre during the greater part of the War and from the 1st November, 1918, to the 12th March, 1919, the 33rd Casualty Clearing Station was posted in the town. The Communal Cemetery, was used by the Germans to bury their soldiers and (in 1917 and 1918) 153 British prisoners. A British plot was made at the south-east end, after the capture of the town, and after the Armistice the graves of the prisoners and other British graves were regrouped beside it.' (www.cwgc.org)

Western Michigan University: ‘This photograph provides a general overview of the prison camp at Limburg from a watch tower, showing the one-story wooden barracks, found in many west German prison facilities, which accommodated the prisoners. In the background is the twin-spired cathedral in Limburg, overlooking the Lahn River.’ (scholarworks.wmich.edu/wwi_pow_camps/1216) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Died at Limburg Camp, 28 March 1918. His widow Beatrice Elizabeth Gilbert was his legatee and received payments in respect of herself and her child (Gladys). 'In Memoriam' notice published in the Nottingham Evening Post, 28 March 1919: 'GILBERT. – In loving memory of my dear husband, Everard Gilbert, 7th Sherwood Foresters, died of wounds, March 28th, 1918. A noble sacrifice. – From loving wife and child.'