Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John and Letitia Gilbert. The 1911 census records, John Gilbert, married 21 years and head of the family, a Gas Stoker, born 1866 in Great Bowden, Leics., and his wife Letitia, born 1869 in Foxton, Leics. The children were, Maud Elizabeth, a Corset Factory Hand, born 1892, Frances Letitia, a Corset Factory Hand, born 1893, Arthur, a Printer, born 1895, Emily, a Corset Factory Hand, born 1897, John, a Schoolboy, born 1899, Henry, a Schoolboy, born 1900, George, a Schoolboy, born 1901, Sarah, born 1903, Thomas, born 1904, May, born 1906, Florence, born 1908, all the children were born in Great Bowden, Leics. The family were residing at 9 & 10 Main Street, Great Bowden, Leics. The Battalion embarked for the Italian front on the 11th December 1917, it has to be assumed that John was possibly hospitalised either before the journey or after arrival in Italy, and was transported to the port of Marseille by hospital ship which may possibly explain his place of burial.