Son of Thomas Linsay Gilbert and Minnie Gilbert
Husband of Ellen Gilbert, Small Heath, Birmingham

Eric Gilbert was the driver of the Churchill tank “Caribou of Coughar”, one of the tanks of Second Squad HQ Troop, 4th Battalion Coldstream Guards, on 14 October 1944.

Bob Dare, driver of the “Jackal” (on display at the War Museum in Overloon) survived the war and described the experiences of 14 October as follows:
“We were ordered to move forward and we moved steadily along a narrow road. We were bombarded mercilessly by “Moaning Minnies” (German Nebelwerfers). The days before had not been best, but this was really bad. Then we were ordered to turn left, straight through hedges and bushes. We continued our way across open ground in a V formation. I was the front tank…”

John Collier also survived the Battle of Overloon from the “Cheetah” and watches the “Caribou of Coughar” take a direct hit from a .88 shell. Eric Gilbert and his good friend Johnny (Dolly) Dalton are killed instantly in the explosion that follows. The Churchill tank is knocked out.

Eric Gilbert and John Wilkinson Dalton are both buried at Overloon War Cemetery. Unfortunately, no photograph of John is available (yet).

Source: Bob Dare, John Collier, www.landmarkscout.com