Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Andrew Gilbert, a granite quarry worker, born 1872 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire and his wife Drucilla Gilbert (nee Baker, married on the 25th December 1892 in St. Peter’s Church, Mountsorrel), born 1874 in Mountsorrel. Tom was born on the 3rd June 1893 in Mountsorrel and was baptised on the 17th March 1895 in Rothley Parish Church, Leicestershire, his siblings were, William Henry, born 22nd February 1895 in Rothley and baptised on the 17th March in Rothley Parish Church, Edith Elizabeth, born 1898 in Whitwick, Leicestershire, Frederick, born 1899 and Florence Annie, born 1901, the latter two siblings were both born in Rothley, also residing in the family home was Tom’s paternal Uncle, Furley Gilbert, a general labourer, born 1878 in Mountsorrel, in March 1901 the family home was at Town Green, Rothley. In April 1911 Tom was employed as a granite quarry worker (truck filler) and was residing in the family home at North Street, Rothley, together with his father a granite quarry worker (squarer), his mother and siblings, William, a boot trade scourer, Edith, a Boot trade machine room assistant, Frederick, a schoolboy and Florence, a schoolgirl. Tom first entered the theatre of war in France on the 9th November 1914 with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, later being transferred to the Northamptonshire Regiment on the 5th November 1916. He was awarded the 1914 Star, British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 19 Apr-17 - At 7.00 am The Battalion was formed up behind MANSURA RIDGE ready to attack BEERSHEBA ROAD. “C” Company on right, “D” Company in centre, “B” Company on left, “A” Company in support. At 7.30 am First line went forward and was followed at two minute intervals by succeeding lines. The Battalion moved to start with in artillery formation of lines of sections through heavy barrage of gun fire and opened into extended order about 600 yards from Ridge as soon as it became under machine gun and rifle fire when the majority of the casualties occurred. At about 9.00 am a thin front line reached to a distance varying at different parts of the line from 500 yards to 120 yards from the Turk trenches when it became certain that no further advance could be made without very strong reinforcements. The Battalion was subject to very heavy gun fire both shrapnel and high explosive throughout the day from direction of ALI EL MUNTAR. As this fire was enfilade, it followed the Battalion right up to 200 yards of Turk trenches. During the morning, owing to failure of adjoining Division to link up, the 10th LONDON REGIMENT adjusted their line which left our left flank in the air. About noon a small counter attack was preparing on left flank of Battalion. This was disposed of with Maxim and Lewis gun fire. The Battalion received orders to hold the position at all costs and the position was maintained until a fresh line was taken up at dusk by 1st/5th BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT when it was withdrawn through that Regiment. The Battalion lost in casualties 20 officers and 366 other ranks. The majority of these occurring before 9.00 am.
On Friday May 24th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MOUNTSORREL.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Pte. P. O. Smith, Sherwood Foresters, aged 18, now of Mountsorrel, was wounded and gassed in France on April 25th. His parents live at Boundary-road, Mountsorrel. Pte. T. Gilbert, aged 23, of the Northants Regiment, is reported wounded and missing in Palestine since April 19th, 1917. His parents reside in George-street, Anstey, and they will be glad of any information concerning him. Before joining the army he worked at Mountsorrel quarries. He was in the forces when war broke out, and went to France, being wounded three times. He went to Egypt 15 months ago.