No.15070, Private, Arnold GILBEY
Aged 19
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There is a conundrum immediately since the photograph above is from a framed commemorative held by a relative and as can be seen, the soldier
depicted is quite clearly in the Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) whereas Arnold quite definitely was in the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).
Arnold Gilbey was born in Soham (Newmarket Q2-1897 3B:523) on son of Harry and Harriet GILBEY (née HILLS). As with the other Gilbeys, the 'e' in the surname is not always used. His father married Harriet HILLS (Newmarket Q4-1887 3B:1074). 1901 census...Aged 3, he was at Angle Common, Soham with his father Harry GILBY [37] bricklayer; his mother Harriet [38]; half brother William HILLS [17] bricklayer's labourer; brothers Sidney [10], Arthur [8] and Walter J [1 month]; sisters Alice [12] and Bertha [6]. All were born in Soham. 1911 census...Aged 13, a farm labourer, he was still at Angle Common, Soham with his parents; half brother William HILLS,; brothers Sidney, (both farm labourers), Walter, Elliott [7], Ernest [6] and Victor [1] both born in Soham; sisters Bertha and Alice [4] born Soham. His mother had borne 11 children but 2 had died. According to the family form for the Army, on 15th September 1919 the family were: Parents, half brother William HILLS [21-9-1883] (on active service), half sister Eliza HILLS [13-1-1882, brothers Sidney [29-7-1890], Arthur [21-2-1893], Walter [24-2-1901], Elliott [12-1-1903], Ernest 9-4-1905 and Victor [21-9-1910]; sisters Berthe [14-10-1894] and Alice [6-8-1906]. All except William HILLS were living at Mill Corner, Soham. The pension card initially has the family still at Mill Corner, but on the death of his mother, his father moved to The Pen, Soham |
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Enlisted in Bury St Edmunds.
He attested on 10th May 1916 for Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) No.G/15070. Giving his age as 19 years, he was 5 feet 4.25 inches (163.2 cm) tall, weighed 109 lbs 949.6 kg), chest 32.5" to 36" (82.6 to 91.4 cm). A motor driver from Mill Corner, Soham. Next of kin, father Harry GILBY of Mill Corner, Soham. previous service with Army Service Corps (Motor transport). His earliest service record is illegible, but he embarked for France on 13th September 1916, joining the 6th Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment on 29th September 1916. Posted missing, his death was presumed to be killed in action or from wounds on or since 7th October 1916. The Sixth Queen's Own received their induction in the trenches at "Plug Street" in the south of the Ypres Salient, before making a name for themselves in the fighting at Hulloch during the Loos offensive and then in the battle of the craters near Vermelles. Their last engagement during the Somme was at Goudecourt on 7th October 1916 where they held their ground despite incurring heavy casualties. CWGC have the 6th losing 97 men killed, only 7 having identified grave. Local press report in 1918 Information has now been received by Mr. and Mrs. H. Gilbey,of Mill Corner, Soham, concerning their son, Pte Arnold Gilbey, Royal West Kent Regt.,who was reported missing some considerable time ago. A communication has reached the parents to the effect that his body has been found and buried, thus confirming the conclusion to which the Army Council had previously come. The photograph above is the same as the one in the newspaper, but again, it is the wrong badge.
Arnold's first grave photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
