Gilbert Waterhouse facts for kids

Gilbert Waterhouse (born January 22, 1883 – died July 1, 1916) was an English architect. He also became known as a war poet because he wrote poems during wartime.

Gilbert Waterhouse fought in World War I. He was a second lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment. Sadly, he was killed on the very first day of the Battle of the Somme. After his death, a book of his poems was published in 1916. It was called Rail-Head and other poems.

Gilbert's Early Life

Gilbert Waterhouse was born in Chatham, Kent, on January 22, 1883. He was the third of seven children. His father worked as a shipbroker, which means he helped people buy and sell ships.

Gilbert went to Bancroft's School from 1894 to 1900. After that, he studied at the University of London. In 1901, when he was 18, he worked as a ship's draughtsman. This means he drew detailed plans for ships. Later, he became a qualified architect. When he joined the army in 1914, he said his job was "architect-surveyor."

Joining the Army

When World War I began, Gilbert Waterhouse joined the army on September 8, 1914. He was 31 years old and started as a private.

In April 1915, he asked to become an officer. He was made a second lieutenant in May 1915. He was sent to the 3rd Battalion Essex Regiment in Harwich. This was a training unit for new officers and soldiers. In October 1915, one of his poems, "Coming in splendour thro' the golden gate," was published in a magazine called The English Review.

We don't know exactly when Gilbert was sent to France to join the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment. However, a telegram sent to his father on February 25, 1916, said that Gilbert was in a hospital. He was being treated for a minor infection in his left arm.

The Battle of the Somme

Gilbert Waterhouse's grave at Serre Road Cemetery

Gilbert Waterhouse returned to his unit, the 2nd Battalion, The Essex Regiment, before the Battle of the Somme began. His battalion was part of the 12th Brigade in the 4th Infantry Division.

On July 1, 1916, Gilbert was serving with C Company. His unit was positioned south of the village of Serre. At the start of the attack, the 2nd Battalion had 24 officers and 606 other soldiers. By the end of the day, only two officers and 192 other soldiers were unharmed. Many had been killed or wounded.

At first, Gilbert Waterhouse was reported as "wounded and missing." His family worried about him for a long time. It was later confirmed that he had died from his wounds or was killed after being hurt. He was not officially declared dead until March 1917.

A soldier named Private J Adkins, who was with Gilbert, shared what he saw:

'I last saw Lt Waterhouse on the 1st July about 9.30 am two hours after the start.

He was a very brave man and he stood out more conspicuously than anyone. He seemed so fearless….

'On the 1 July between Serre Wood and Beaumont, about 9.30 in the morning, I had got over one German trench and was advancing to a second when I was hit in the back. I was carrying bombs and I was going on again when I caught sight of Lt Waterhouse about 30 yards from me. He had a revolver in his hand and he stood out, a solitary figure. I saw him drop to his knees and begin to crawl and I did the same and so did his platoon. I thought at the time he had seen an MG and was avoiding the fire but he may have been hit.’

Gilbert's body was found after the battle. He was buried in the CWGC Serre Road No.2 cemetery around July 1917.

Gilbert's Poetry

After Gilbert Waterhouse died, a collection of his poems was published in December 1916. The book was titled Rail-Head and Other Poems. It contained 24 poems. Most of these poems were written before the war or before he went to the front lines. About half a dozen of them are "trench" poems. These poems show his sharp observations and a bit of humor about life in the trenches.

One of the well-known poems in the book is "Bivouacs."

Gilbert Waterhouse is remembered at Bancroft's School. His name is on the World War I War Memorial Honours Board there.