Description
1914-15 Star Trio, 6081 Private Percy Albert Gilbert, 8th Battalion East Surrey Regiment, who died of wounds on 2nd July 1916, after the regiment was decimated on the First Day of the Somme.
1914-15 Star officially impressed: “6081 Pte P.A. Gilbert. E. Surr: R.”
Pair officially impressed: “6081 Pte P.A. Gilbert. E. Surr. R.”
With 1 original flattened card box of issue alongside all 3 of the original medal issue slips from when the medals were issued posthumously to his mother Sarah.
Percy Albert Gilbert died of his wounds on 2nd July 1916, having barely survived the previous day when the 8th East Surrey took part in their attack of the First Day of the Somme.
The War Diary dated 1st July 1916 recalls the advance at 7-27 am:
“B Company started to move out to their wire, Captain Neville strolling quietly ahead of them, giving an occasional order to keep the dressing square on to the line of advance This company took 4 footballs out with them which they were seen to dribble forward into the smoke of our intense bombardment on the Hun front line.”
Before the battle during the Brigade Sports held in the field on 28th May 1916, “Pte Gilbert” and “Seymour” won first place in the Wheel Barrow race. One of 2 victories for the East Surreys, playing with their brigade, the Buffs, Queens (East Surrey), Surreys, West Kents and some corps men.
Percy Albert Gilbert, served in the 8th Bn East Surrey Regiment, and took part with the regiment in the famous “Football Charge” on the First Day of the Somme, the brainchild of Captain Wilfred “Billie” Neville, of the 8th East Surreys who having risen through the ranks himself came up with the idea that if his men were to begin an attack, they should kick their football out towards the German front line, to take their minds of the battle, Captain Billie died fighting in the attack.
Percy’s brother Albert Dvid Gilbert, 41826, Manchester Regiment went missing and was declared killed in action on 31st July 1917.
Percy first landed for service in France on 27th July 1915, the day that the 8th East Surreys first landed at Boulogne.
You can read further and see a photo of the real recovered football here:
https://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/themes/subjects/50_objects/more_gallery/somme/
