Pte
Sidney Gilbert
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 26/04/1894 |
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Place of birth: Alford, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 40074 |
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Enlistment place: Louth, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Lincolnshire Regiment, 2/4th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 26/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Otto Farm, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 23 |
Cemetery
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Dochy Farm New British Cemetery Plot: VI Row: D Grave: 9 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal — 09/10/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 09/10/1920 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private Sidney Gilbert served with the Lincolnshire Regiment, 2/4th Battalion. As part of the 177th Brigade of the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division. This battalion fought in the Battle of Polygon Wood, a phase in the Third Battle of Ypres.
The 2/4th, together with the 2/5th Lincolns, were in support of the 2/4th and 2/5th Leicesters, who would lead the attack. The objective was to push the front line further to the east, in the direction of ‘s Graventafel. On the way the men had to take several farms, which had been turned into concrete strong points by the Germans.
In the early morning of September 26, the attack began. After the Leicesters took the first objective with relative ease they dug near Dochy Farm in and the Lincolns took over. They still didn’t meet much resistance. According to the war diary many Germans surrendered easily. Having met little opposition the Divisional commander, Major-General Romer, ordered the Lincolns to capture Riverside and Otto Farm. The 2/5th attacked Riverside Farm, while the 2/4th advanced towards Otto Farm. Both objectives were captured, but the impulsive attack was not well prepared. The allied artillery barrage was dropping short causing several casualties amongst the Lincolns. And the 2/4th and 2/5th were forced to abandon Riverside and Otto Farm and they started to dig in.
Private Sidney Gilbert was killed in action on the 26th of September 1917. He was buried about 150 meters west of Otto Farm, close to the final consolidation line. This may suggest that he fell during the attack on Otto farm. Though the prior advance had been a success, the attack on Otto Farm was an utter failure. The men were caught by friendly fire and were eventually forced to retreat. Sidney Gilbert’s remains were exhumed and interred in the Dochy Farm New British Cemetery.
The 2/4th, together with the 2/5th Lincolns, were in support of the 2/4th and 2/5th Leicesters, who would lead the attack. The objective was to push the front line further to the east, in the direction of ‘s Graventafel. On the way the men had to take several farms, which had been turned into concrete strong points by the Germans.
In the early morning of September 26, the attack began. After the Leicesters took the first objective with relative ease they dug near Dochy Farm in and the Lincolns took over. They still didn’t meet much resistance. According to the war diary many Germans surrendered easily. Having met little opposition the Divisional commander, Major-General Romer, ordered the Lincolns to capture Riverside and Otto Farm. The 2/5th attacked Riverside Farm, while the 2/4th advanced towards Otto Farm. Both objectives were captured, but the impulsive attack was not well prepared. The allied artillery barrage was dropping short causing several casualties amongst the Lincolns. And the 2/4th and 2/5th were forced to abandon Riverside and Otto Farm and they started to dig in.
Private Sidney Gilbert was killed in action on the 26th of September 1917. He was buried about 150 meters west of Otto Farm, close to the final consolidation line. This may suggest that he fell during the attack on Otto farm. Though the prior advance had been a success, the attack on Otto Farm was an utter failure. The men were caught by friendly fire and were eventually forced to retreat. Sidney Gilbert’s remains were exhumed and interred in the Dochy Farm New British Cemetery.
Sources 6
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"The history of the Lincolnshire Regiment, 1914-1918", C.R. Simpson, The Medici Society, 1931, pg. 264-6. Sources used |
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"The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995, pg. 92. Sources used |
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Ancestry http://home.ancestry.co.uk/ Further reference |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/ Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary Lincolnshire Regiment 2/4th Bn. http://www.nmarchive.com/ Further reference |