Gilbert Sims GADNEY (1886–1916)

Gilbert Sims Gadney was born in Oxford on 8 May 1886. He was the son of Frank John Gadney (born in Isis Row, North Hinksey, Berkshire and baptised at St Aldate’s Church on 2 August 1848) and Elizabeth Ann Sims (born in Pusey (then Alfred) Street, Oxford and baptised at St Giles's Church on 28 February 1849).

His parents were married in Holywell Church, Oxford on 22 August 1872 and had four children:

Ethel Mary Gadney (born in Oxford and baptised at SS Philip & James Church on 26 October 1873)
Herbert George Gadney (born in Oxford and baptised at SS Philip & James Church on 1 November 1874)
Cyril Frank Gadney (born in Oxford on 23 January 1885 and baptised at SS Philip & James Church on on 1 March 1885)
Gilbert Sims Gadney (born in Oxford on 8 May 1886 and baptised at SS Philip & James Church on 13 June 1886).

Gilbert’s father Frank John Gadney was the son of John Gadney, and back in 1871 he was living with his unmarried aunt, Catherine Gadney, at 17 Walton Street and was a clerk to a tailor. He was living in SS Philip & St James parish in 1872 when he married Gilbert’s mother Elizabeth Sims: she was the daughter of John Sims, Clerk of the Schools, who lived at 54 Holywell Street, and the niece of George Frederick Sims, organist at Merton College (who taught Gustav Holst counterpoint for a period in 1891, when Holst was 17).

By the time their first child was born in 1873 Gilbert's parents were living at 1 Chichester Villas, Kingston Road (which was in SS Philip & St James parish until 1896). They were still at that address in 1875, but by about 1879 the family had moved to 2 Walton Villas, St John’s Road (now renamed St Bernard’s Road).

Gilbert’s father was still a tailor’s clerk in 1874, but soon afterwards became a partner at Hookham & Company, tailors & robemakers, at 3 Cornmarket near Carfax, which was renamed Hookham, Gadney & Embling Bros. By the time of the 1881 census Gilbert's parents were living over the Cornmarket shop with one servant, and his father was described as “Robemaker Resident Partner employing 40 to 50 Assistant Workmen”.

The family was still living over 3 Cornmarket at the time of the 1891 census, when Gilbert was four years old.

Gilbert attended Magdalen College School. In about 1900 the family moved to 163 Woodstock Road in St Margaret’s parish.

Both of Gilbert's surviving siblings were married in 1900:

On 19 April 1900 Gilbert's sister Ethel Mary Gadney (26) of 163 Woodstock Road married William Rollinson Deeping (27), a manufacturer's agent of 9 Harefield Road, Crouch End, London.
On 2 August 1900 at St John the Baptist Church, Fifield, Herbert George Gadney (25) married Beatrice Emma Theobald Adams (23).

At the time of the 1901 census Gilbert (14), who was still at school, was living at 163 Woodstock Road with his father Frank and his mother Elizabeth (both aged 52) and his brother Cyril (16). Also living with them was Gilbert's unmarried maternal uncle George Sims (49), who was an organist, and a general servant.

In 1905 Gilbert's brother Cyril Frank Gadney died at the age of 20 and was buried in Holywell Cemetery.

In about 1908 Gilbert’s parents moved to 199 Woodstock Road to the north of St Margaret’s parish.

At the time of the 1911 census Gilbert (24) was an auctioneer’s clerk, living at “Northlands”, Sandpit Lane, St Albans with his sister Ethel and her husband William Deeping, who was a hosiery and clothing manufacturer, and their two children. Meanwhile his parents were at home at 199 Woodstock Road with their cook and housemaid, while his brother Herbert (36), who was a bookseller, was living at 22 Warnborough Road with his wife and two children and two servants.

Gilbert’s father, Frank John Gadney, died at the Radcliffe Infirmary at the age of 66 on 7 October 1914 and was buried in Holywell Cemetery with his son Cyril. His effects came to £11,108 12s. 9d.

Gilbert's mother remained at 199 Woodstock Road on her own until about 1916.

In the First World War Gilbert Sims Gadney served as a Second Lieutenant in the 8th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment. He was killed in action in France at the age of 30 on 3 July 1916, and has no known grave.

He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 5A and 5B), on the brass memorial plaque in Magdalen College School (shown below), and on the war memorial outside St Margaret’s Church in north Oxford.

Gadney on Magdalen College School memorial

Administration was granted in London to his brother-in-law, William Rollinson [wrongly recorded as Rolandson] Deeping, on 20 April 1917. He left £197 10s. 9d, and is described in the register as “Gilbert Gadney otherwise Gilbert Sims”.

After the War

Gilbert’s widowed mother

Mrs Elizabeth Ann Gadney went to lived with her daughter Mrs Ethel Deeping in St Albans in the 1920s. She died at the age of 83 at 14 Upper Marlborough Road there on 4 October 1932 and she was buried with her husband and son Cyril in Holywell Cemetery. Her effects came to £12,157 10s. 2d., and her accountant was her executor.

Gilbert's surviving siblings

Mrs Ethel Mary Deeping (born 1874) was living at “Northlands”, Sandpit Lane, St Albans at the time of the 1921 census with her husband William (48), who was a textile manufacturer's agent for a business in Cheapside, and their children Maurice (20), who was a commercial traveller, and Gladys (18). Ethel died at 14 Upper Marlborough Road, St Albans on 11 June 1960.
Herbert George Gadney (born 1874) ran a large bookshop at 2–3 Turl Street (photograph). At the time of the 1921 census he described himself as a publisher as well as a bookseller and was living at 216 Woodstock Road with his wife Beatrice and their son Bernard Cecil Gadney (11). Herbert George Gadney died at the Radcliffe Infirmary at the age of 73 on 27 March 1946 and his funeral was held at All Saints Church in Oxford on 30 March.

First World War Memorial, St Margaret’s Church, Oxford

Gilbert Sims GADNEY (1886–1916)

After the War

Gilbert’s widowed mother

Gilbert's surviving siblings

See also