Sergeant Donald William Gilbert
Donald Gilbert was born in London, England on October 24, 1889. He immigrated to Canada and worked as a mill hand at Penmans Mill No.2. He attended St James Anglican Church. He served with the 25th Brant Dragoons before he enlisted for the war. He was single and 25 years of age when he enlisted with the 125th Battalion in Paris.
Donald was a Lance Corporal in the 9th Platoon that embarked aboard the S.S Scandinavia on February 12, 1916. The 9th and 10th Platoons were the first contingent of soldiers from Paris, nearly 100 men, to go overseas. He was transferred to the 2nd Central Ontario Regiment, and on September 12, 1917, he was admitted to the Canadian Military Hospital in Bramshot. He was discharged on September 21 and seems to have reverted back to the 125th Battalion. On April 15, 1918, he was transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Corps (CMGC) and then to their Depot in Seaford. On August 23, 1918, he arrived in France and on November 30, was classified as a signaller.
Shortly after, on February 1, 1919, had had the first of several episodes of epilepsy. He was discharged in England at the No.9 Canadian Discharge Depot. It is not clear when Sergeant Donald Gilbert was returned to Canada.