Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Euston Road Cemetery Colincamps | ||
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.115 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 13C GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Early Life :
3rd son of John Lilley and Sophia C. Anthony, of 24, Kimbolton Rd., Bedford. In 1891, Gerald was living with brothers Everand P (18), John R. (12), together with Aunt Florence and two servants Jane and Clara. It appears from the census that Grandparent was living next door at 26.In 1991, Gerald and Dorothy were living at Bank Crescent, Ledbury in Hertfordshire. Also resident with them was a general servant - Edith Mary Dance.
Married Dorothy Gladys Smith on the 7th October 1907.
1912 saw the birth of their only son, John Victor Caldecott Anthony.
Family :
Dorothy Gladys b.1889 d.1981 - nee SmithJohn Victor Caldecott b. 23rd December 1912. Awarded the OBE and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chartered Surveyors.
Education & Career :
Auctioneer (1905)
Listed in the London Gazette of 4th May 1915 as promoted to a Valuer, Junior or Third Class in the Inland Revenue.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 23rd (Service) Battalion (1st Sportsman's) Royal Fusiliers |
23rd (Service) Battalion (1st Sportsman's) Formed at the Hotel Cecil in the Strand, London, on 25 September 1914 by Mrs E.Cunliffe-Owen. Initially known as the "Hard as Nails Battalion". Moved to Hornchurch in Essex. June 1915 : came under command of 99th Brigade, 33rd Division. Landed at Boulogne in November 1915. 25 November 1915 : transferred with Brigade to 2nd Division. |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
Killed in Action on the 16th September 1916
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Eastnor No. 751 E.C. | Herefordshire |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
17th May 1905 | 15th October 1905 | 15th November 1905 |
Discrepancies (Require checks, clarity or further research) :
The record of the United Grand Lodge of England shows "Killed in Action 1917"
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley