Four: Company Sergeant Major B. Gilbart, 10th (Scottish) Battalion, Liverpool Regiment

1914 Star (2165 Sjt., 10/L’pool. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2165 W.O. Cl. 2., L’pool. R.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (355100 C.S.Mjr., 10/L’pool. R.) some contact wear and edge bruising, therefore nearly very fine and better (4) £150-200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to the Liverpool Regiment from the Collection of Hal Giblin.

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B. B. Gilbart accompanied the original contingent of the Liverpool Scottish to France aboard the S.S. Maidan in November 1914. When the enemy broke out at Epehy on 30 November 1917, Gilbart is recorded in the regimental history as carrying in the wounded Lieutenant Gulick from the overrun trenches.

The following amusing incident wich took place whilst Gilbart was employed training recruits, is extracted from The Liverpool Scottish 1900-1919, by A. M. Gilchrist: ‘The quality of recruit of course, varied. When the volunteer well was running dry and those who had attested under the Derby Scheme were called up, a number of curious old gentlemen joined the battalion... Some of them found the sudden transition from a well-paid job with all home comforts to army pay and fare a little trying, but the grumblers were soon brought to a proper frame of mind. Probably the Company Sergeant Major’s retort to one of the latter, who complained that his tea was cold, “No wonder, my lad, it’s been waiting for you for two years,” was used in other battalions besides the Scottish, though original humorists like Gilbart are rare.’