#9357, Gilbert Burrell Spencer FOLLETT

Only son of James Skirrow Follett born 1851 Kensington, London and died 9 9 1925 Bristol, Gloucestershire and Blanche Katherine Kenneth Hayley born 1854 Sussex and died September 1914 London. They married 8 8 1876 Battle, Sussex.

Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Commissioned into the Coldstream Guards as a Second Lieutenant on 11 Feb 1899. Promoted to Lieutenant on 10 Apr 1900, to Captain on 3 Sep 1908, to Major on 17 Jul 1915, to Brevet Lieutenant Colonel on 1 Jan 1918. He joined the 1st Battalion on commissioning in Gibraltar. He served in the 2nd Anglo Boer War in South Africa (1899-1900), sailing from Gibraltar on the Malta, and arrived at the Cape about 16 Nov 1899. Along with the 3rd Grenadiers, 2nd Coldstreams, and 1st Scots Guards, they formed the 1st or Guards Brigade under Major General Colvile, part of the Kimberley relief force. They fought at the battles of Belmont (23 Nov 1899), at Modder River (28 Nov 1899) and Magersfontein (11 Dec 1899), leading to the relief of Kimberley. He was wounded in action (Queen's Medal and 2 clasps). He returned to England joining the 3rd Battalion in London. He rejoined the 1st Battalion when they returned from South Africa. When the Battalion was presented new colours in 1907, he was made a member of the Royal Victorian Order, 5th Class (MVO) [Edinburgh Gazette: 4 Jun 1907]. Transferred to the 2nd Battalion on promotion to Captain.



When WW1 started the 2nd Battalion was stationed in Windsor, part of 4th (Guards) Brigade, 2nd Division. They landed at Le Havre on 13 Aug 1914. The Battalion never reached the Battle of Mons (21-23 Aug 1914) but assisted during the withdrawal from Mons, and fought in the Battle of the Marne (5-12 Sep 1914) and the Battle of the Aisne (13-28 Sep 1914). They were then sent north to Flanders and fought in the First Battle of Ypres (19 Oct–30 Nov 1914). The Battalion was near La Bassee in northern France in early 1915 and fought in the Battle of Loos (25 Sep–8 Oct 1915). In 1916 the Battalion was sent south to fight in the Battle of the Somme (1 Jul-18 Nov 1916). He commanded the 2nd Battalion for brief periods as an Acting Lieutenant Colonel on the Somme. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) [London Gazette: 9 Jan 1917].

Maj. (temp. Lt.-Col.) Gilbert Burrell Spencer Follett, M.V.O., C. Gds.

"For conspicuous gallantry in action. Although wounded, he inspected the front-line trenches under heavy fire. Later, he remained with the battalion until they were relieved. He has on many previous occasions done fine work."

He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre (France) [Edinburgh Gazette: 28 Sep 1917].

On 25 Mar 1918 he was given command of the 3rd Guards Brigade as a Brigadier General. He was killed in action during the 100 day offensive at the end of WW1 at Flesquieres, about 10 km south west of Cambrai, France on 27 Sep 1918. He was mentioned in despatches 4 times [London Gazette: 20 Oct 1914, 4 Jan 1917, 22 May 1917, 11 Dec 1917].



He is also commemorated on the Eton College WW1 Memorial (see: https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/198262); on the Roll of Honour of Etonians who fought in WW1 (see: https://archive.org/details/li... of London; on a memorial plaque in the cloisters at Eton College (see: https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/41532); on the Marylebone Cricket Club Members WW1 Roll of Honour in the Members Pavilion, Lord's Cricket Ground, St John's Wood, Greater London (see: https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/11563) and on the Coldstream Guards WW1 Memorial in the Royal Memorial Chapel, RMA Sandhurst, Camberley, Surrey Heath Borough, Surrey, England.

Gravesite Details
Brigadier General, General Staff, late Coldstream Guards; Commanding 3rd Guards Brigade. Killed in action. Son of John Skirrow Follett and Blanche Katharine Kenneth Follett; husband of Lady Mildred Follett (now Lady Mildred Fitzgerald, of Warren Hous

Courtesy of Find a Grave, 2026