People Australia

Arthur Frederick Gilbert, n.d. photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

Ar t h u r Fr ed e r ick g il b e r t , born at Beecroft, N.S.W., on 10th June, 1896, is the son of Mr. Charles E. Gilbert and Mrs. Marian Gilbert. He was educated at the Burwood Superior Public School and the Sydney High School.

He entered the Bank’s service on the 26th September, 1912, at the Head Office, and remained there until he enlisted on 6th April, 1915.

Arthur Gilbert sailed from Australia on 12th May, 1915, with the first reinforcements for the 17th Battalion, which he joined in Egypt in August. He fought at Gallipoli from the 20th August until the evacuation on the 19th December, 1915. While on the Peninsula he was promoted to sergeant.

During January and February he was engaged in the defensive preparations in Sinai. Later on he went to France and took part in the Battle of Pozieres in August, 1916. In the following month he was promoted to company sergeant-major, and in August, 1917, to regimental sergeant-major.

Arthur Gilbert was in action at Passchendaele in September, 1917, and won promotion to second-lieutenant, getting his lieutenancy on 1st January, 1918. He took part in the offensive operations from Villers-Bretonneux, in August, up to the capture of the Hindenburg Line on 5th October, 1918. He had been appointed assistant adjutant in March, 1918, and adjutant in August, 1918.

Leaving France in April, 1919, he returned to Australia on the transport “Nestor,” arriving at Sydney in July.