Gilbert Shipton
Memorial: Dyrham - St Peter's Church
Regiment: Gloucestershire Regiment
Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Private 2577
Parents: Mr Robert and Mrs A Shipton
Home address: Rosary Cottage, Hinton, Chippenham
Pre-war occupation: Tram conductor
Date of birth: 1893
Place of birth: Hinton, chippenham
Date of death: 09/04/1916
Buried/Commemorated at: Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
Age: 23
Further information:
Gilbert was born in Hinton, the son of Mr Robert and Mrs A Shipton formerly of Rosary Cottage Hinton, who by the time of WW1 was living at 45 Kew Road, Clevedon. Robert Shipton was a Gardener at Hinton.Gilbert was working in Bristol as a tram conductor and was living in Westbury on Trym
Gilbert was a Private in the 1st/4th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment and died on the 9th April 1916, aged 23 and is buried at the Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
Letter from Gilbert Shipton to Reverend Henry Wynter Blathwayt Rector of Dyrham Church, whilst training:
Dear Sir
Just a few lines to let you know how we are spending our time in Essex. We start in the morning at 6 o'clock, marching and foot drill till 7.30 from then till 9.30 we have our breakfast, clean rifles, shake our blankets and put the place square. From 9.30 till 2.30 we march perhaps five or six miles and have a sham fight, four companies a side. Each company consists of 120 men, sometimes we are the attacking party sometimes we are the resisting party. We generally get home by 2.30 to dinner. Soup every day, it's a mixture is this stew a little bit of everything. From 3.30 till 5.00 rifle and bayonet inspection, tea from 5.00 till 6.00 then twice a week, out on post duty or night attacks till 10.00 lights out at 10.10pm. We have just marched back from Great Totham after a fortnights night trench digging for the defence of London in case of invasion. We have to march to trench digging 60??? besides a pickaxe and a shovel, so as you can guess sir, we didn't need rocking to sleep at night. We go home for four days leave and sail for France on either the 3rd or the 6th of December. Closing now Sir. Hoping you will forgive me taking the liberty of writing to you. I remain sir Your obedient servant
G.Shipton.
Thank you very much sir for the papers
The 1st/4th (City of Bristol) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment was formed as a Territorial unit in August 1914 in Clifton, Bristol. It was part of the Gloucester and Worcester Brigade in the South Midland Division. It moved on mobilisation to Swindon but very quickly on to Maldon in Essex. On 30th March 1915 the battalion landed at Boulogne. On 15th May it joined the 144th Brigade, 48th (South Midland) Division. The battalion fought on the western front until it moved to Italy in November 1917 where it remained until the Armistice
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Edward Walsh and Neil Stacy
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Forces War Records