Born in February 1893, Bertrand Frederick Bass Gilders was one of five children. He was the son of Bertha Beatrice and Cecil Edward Gilders, a shipbroker. In 1911, the family were living at 117 Fellbrigge Road, Goodmayes, Ilford. He attended the Coopers Company School in Bow from 1906 to 1912.
Bertrand served in the 12th Battalion, the London Regiment, as a rifleman and was killed in action during the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915. The battle started when the Germans released poisonous gas into Allied lines and forced an Allied withdrawal. The British were then ready to detonate six German mines, and this led to counter attacks from the Germans. Bertrand was killed during these counter attacks on the 25th April 1915 at the age of 22.
Bertrand’s brother, Clifford, was killed a year later, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916
Bertrand Gilders name is recorded on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.
Some information / extracts have been reproduced with kind permission of Karen Pack from her book ‘Coopers’ Boys & Coborn Girls: Their Part in the Great War’ © Karen Pack, 2015
Sources:
Ancestry.com
ICHS school records and magazines
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Bert Gilders, familiarly known as "Jack," was the first of our lads to make the great sacrifice, and the gloom that his loss cast over the Church will never be forgotten. Jack was a member of the Woodgrange Baptist Church, but attended our Church on Sunday mornings, and was greatly interested in all our activities.
He was educated at Coopers' School, Bow, and was employed at the Head Office of the Prudential Assurance Co. Jack had no lust for war, to him the whole idea was repugnant, but after consideration he believed the call of his country to be the call of duty, and his response was quick and full. He enlisted in the 12th County of London (The Rangers), in September 1914. His period of training was brief and the war was only of eight months' duration when he was killed. Jack's was a thoughtful, gracious personality, popular wherever he was known, with a pleasant manner and cheerful disposition. His was an enquiring mind and he was keenly interested in some of the great problems of life. Had he lived his influence would have been deep and wide. Now his influence may be wider still.
Reproduced from Homage: A Record of Our Heroes (a commemorative booklet produced by Seven Kings United Methodist Church c.1920)