His address was Horsham, Victoria and his father was his next of kin, living in Horsham, Victoria. Gilbert was a saddler when he enlisted in the A.I.F, at Broadmeadows on the 18th of August, 1914, single, aged 30.

His unit was the 8th Battalion, E Company, Reg Number 518, Private.

Going to serve in WW1, his unit embarked from Melbourne on board transport ship A24 Benalla, on 19th October 1914. His father had been Mayor of Horsham from 1899 to 1901.

He first served on Gallipoli until 7th January 1916 and then was promoted to Corporal (Lance), and served in Egypt with his Battalion and then departed Alexandria for France and the Western Front on March 31st 1916.

Promoted to Corporal, 3rd May 1916 then to Sergeant on the 21st July 1917. On the 23rd August 1918 at Herleville Wood, Gilbert was awarded the Distinguished Conduct medal for conspicuous gallantry. The Commonwealth Gazette No 35, 15/4/1920,

read:-

'For conspicuous gallantry this non-commissioned officer went forward with a small bombing party and got behind the enemy position. He then rushed and bombed the machine guns. Though the enemy fought with stick bombs and rifles, he succeeded in knocking out four machine guns and thus enabled his company to advance and take the position. Throughout the whole operation he showed great courage and set a splendid example to all ranks!'

This was near Chuignes in France. The report on the conspicuous gallantry was signed by the Major General commanding the First Australian Division on the 31st October 1918. Gilbert returned to Australia on 24th September 1918.

He returned to Horsham and resumed his occupation of saddler, later taking up a farming property in the district. He died aged 80 on the 28th December 1962, and is buried at the Horsham Cemetery.

Researched from A.W.M. Archives and the A.I.F. Project.