Aug 30, 1883

Born in Pontefract, Yorkshire, England to John Robert and Elizabeth (nee Kravther) Gilbert

Jun 15, 1900

Attested into the RCR (Royal Canadian Regiment) in London, Ontario

 Ø  Number 7144

Jun 14, 1903

Discharged from the Royal Canadian Regiment as Time Expired.

Jul 20, 1905

Rejoined the Royal Canadian Regiment in London, Ontario and posted to the 2^nd RCR Regimental Depot

Nov 10, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59365 (temporary number 1)

o   Attested with the rank of Warrant Officer and appointed to position of RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. J. Gilbert, mother, Collins Bay, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Clerk

Ø  Previous military experience given as Royal Canadian Regiment for 15 years

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to Headquarters Company

The 21^st Battalion pay record shows him being transferred from the Royal Canadian Regiment Permanent Force

The 21^st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.

Dec 23, 1914

Married to Margaret McLean at the St. George’s Cathedral in Kingston by the 21^st Battalion Chaplain, Captain W.E. Kidd

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

May 25, 1915

Promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1

Jun 14, 1915

Appointed to the Battalion Recreation Committee

Jul 1, 1915

Confirmed in appointment of Regimental Sergeant Major

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Sep 18, 1915

Proceeded to the front line trench near Dranoutre, Belgium to inspect the area that the battalion would be moving into the next day

Jan 26, 1916

Attached to the Trench Warfare School as an instructor

May 20, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Training Division in Shorncliffe and proceeded to England

Jun 30, 1916

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) and attached to the 1^st Canadian Command Depot in Monks Horton

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) and attached to the 1^st Canadian Command Depot

May 21, 1917

Attached to the 3^rd Canadian Command Depot for Physical Training at the St. Leonard’s Hospital

Jun 13, 1917

Taken on permanent strength of the 3^rd Canadian Command Depot

Nov 24, 1917

Appointed to position of 3^rd Canadian Command Depot Sergeant Major

Apr 9, 1919

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Seaford pending return to Canada

May 18, 1919

Embarked the SS Aquitania in Southampton

May 25, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

Jul 31, 1920

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Regimental Sergeant Major (WO)

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 277622

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 173 Sydenham St., Kingston, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 772 Montreal St., Kingston, Ontario

Apr 1, 1921

Reenlisted into the Permanent Force in Kingston and posted to the Instructional Staff

 Ø  Number 12942

Feb 14, 1928

Joseph Gilbert died in Kingston of Angina Pectoris, a heart condition and was buried in the Cataraqui Cemetery in Kingston

Joseph Gilbert’s medal entitlement for his years of service are 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Allied Victory Medal, Coronation Medal 1911, and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal as QM Sergt. 1920