Prescot Roll of Honour

Gilbert BLACK

46 Market Place, Prescot

13058, Royal Navy

Born 5th August 1895, Prescot. Gilbert is shown on the 1911 census living at 46, Market Place, Prescot. He is 14 years old and working as a Machine Guider. His father, John (47) is a Green Grocer. Also at the address are his mother Mary Ellen (40), and siblings Alfred(20), John (18), Ernest (11), Edward (8), Mary Ellen (5), Maud (2) and James (6 months).

Gilbert joined the Royal Navy on 4th September 1912 in Liverpool, recording that his next of kin was his mother, Mary Ellen Black. He recorded his trade as 'Collier'.

He was immediately assigned to the Royal Marines as a Private, serving with the Artillery, was promoted to Gunner on 7th September 1913 and he still held this rank at the outbreak of war. Promoted again to Bombardier in December 1915, he then embarked for overseas service on 31st January 1917, although it is not clear where he served.

Gilbert Black appeared on the list of Roman Catholic men serving with the forces which appeared in the Prescot reporter in May 1915.

He was again promoted, this time to Corporal, on 16th March 1918 and held this rank until he was invalided out of the service on 11th September 1919.

Gilbert married Jessie Heard in Prescot in 1926 and they had a son, William, born in 1928.

At the time of the 1939 National register, Gilbert was reported to be living in the Stables behind the Red Lion, in Market Place (extract below).