Jesse Gebbett was called up quite late in teh war during 1917.  He was 34 when he died in March 1918.  He left behind his widow, Olive, and four childen,Lilian, May, Albert and Alfred.  We have a number of his letters from the front.  He died during the battle of the Somme we think.  We have visited the area where he died and seen his name on the wall in Pozieres Memorial.  He has no gravestone as such.

In researching his death we made contact with the archivist of the Northumberland Fusiliers and he provided the typescript made by an officer recording the troop movements during the last few days of Jesses's life.  It appears that Jesse was killed by the British artillery who fired short.  

His wife was informed of his death about two weeks after it happened - we have the notification.  But she had to wait September before she received a widow's pension of 13/9 a week for herself and about 15 bob a week for her three children (the eldest child not being eleigible).  Sadly some of his last letters are about how his wife is short of money:

" Really Olive my love I never dreamt you were so short of money or I should have sent you on a bit...Still dear a few pounds will be very useful when I come home on leave or when the job is over'...

We wonder how she survived the five months without any income.fired short.  This page won't scroll so I can't add any more.  Maggie Gebbett.

Martin Gebbett