Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Ernest Gibson, a veterinary surgeon, born in the April quarter of 1871 in Sunderland, County Durham (son of George Gibson, 1836 and Elizabeth E. Raine, 1842) and his wife Esther Ann Gibson (nee Bamlett, married in the July quarter of 1894 in Teesdale, County Durham), born in the April quarter of 1870 in Greatham, County Durham (daughter of John Bamlett, 1835-1888 and Mary Harker, 1837-1870. John was born on the 18th May 1895 in Sedgefield, County Durham, his siblings were, William, born in the October quarter of 1897 and twins Margaret Jane, and Mary Eleanor, born in the October quarter of 1899, the latter three siblings were all born in Sedgefield, in March 1901 the family home was at Back Lane, Sedgefield, County Durham.
In April 1911 John was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at High Street, Oakham, Rutland, together with his father, a veterinary surgeon, his mother and siblings, William, a schoolboy, Margaret, a schoolgirl, Mary, a schoolgirl, Dorothy, a schoolgirl, born in the July quarter of 1901 in Sedgefield, Annie, a schoolgirl, born in the April quarter of 1905 and George, born in the January quarter of 1907, the latter two siblings were both born in Oakham.
FAMILY NOTE: John also had another younger sibling, Elsie, born on the 3rd August 1912 in Oakham.
He was educated at Oakham School and subsequently studied at the Royal Veterinary College in London. On the outbreak of war, he was at once mobilised with the Leicestershire Yeomanry of which he had been a member for two years. Embarking for France in October, and he took part in the great battle around Ypres in Belgium, when the Leicestershire Yeomanry suffered terrible losses, including the Commanding Officer Colonel the Hon. P. C. Evans-Freke and numerous other officers and men. Although he survived this historic engagement unscathed, he was mortally wounded by a rifle grenade near Vermelles. He was wounded in the head and died before he reached the advanced dressing station to which he was being accompanied by a comrade Sergeant Major Turner. High tribute to Corporal Gibson’s gallantry and devotion to duty were paid by the officers of his regiment, Major Ricardo and the late Major (then Captain) Hanbury. In conveying to his parents, the sad news of Corporal Gibson’s death: - “A brave soldier,” “He never saw fear,” “He even did not know what it was to be frightened,” are typical of the expressions used concerning him, and one who was brought into intimate connection with him in his school days, wrote: - “He was one of the few people that we meet who inspires you with affection.” A deeply impressive memorial service to Corporal Gibson was held in All Saint’s Church, Oakham, on the Saturday following the receipt of the news of his death, a very large and representative congregation assembling. It was conducted by the Vicar, the Reverend J. Hamilton Charles, R.D., and the Reverend R. G. Bisseker.
John’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Oakham into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At place and date not known.
Posted. To Corps of Hussars. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 1972.
Posted. To 1/1st Leicestershire Yeomanry (Prince Albert’s own) Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 2/11/14.
Promoted. To Lance Corporal. Date not known.
Promoted. To Corporal. Date not known.
Killed in action. In the Field. 6/2/16.
Buried in Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Headstone inscription. “Beloved son of G.E. and E. A. Gibson, Oakham, Rutland.”
Awarded the 1914 Star with Clasp & Rose, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, John nominated his father George Ernest Gibson as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 1-29 Feb-16 - WICQUINGHEM. Regiment, less details with Dismounted Division, in billets in and near WIQUINGHEM.
The War Diary entries for February 1916 record.
1/2/16: WIQUINGHEM. Regiment, less details with Dismounted Division, in billets in and near WIQUINGHEM.
STATES:
Officers, January 31st 24
Add
Lt. G. R. F. DAWSON
Lt. E. W. COOPER
2nd Lt. J. WOODFIELD
2nd Lt. B. B. GRIFFIN
2nd Lt. A. T. CAMPBELL 5
29
Deduct
2nd Lt. J. W. PAYNE (Sick in ENGLAND)
2nd Lt. T. H. SIMPKIN (Sick in ENGLAND) 2
27
Other Ranks, January 31st 615.
Add
From Hospital 66
From months Furlough 5
From temporary details 3
From other units 3
From Base Depot 11 88
703
Deduct
Killed in action 1
Wounded 17
To Hospital (Sick) 78
To months furlough 6
To temporary detachment 1
To other units 3
To Base for discharge 2 108
February 29th 595
On Friday 18th, February 1916, The Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury published the following article on page 6, under the heading. – OAKHAM. – CORP. J. GIBSON KILLED IN ACTION. – A memorial service for the late corp. John Gibson, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Gibson, Highfield House, Oakham, was held in Oakham parish church on Saturday afternoon. The sad news that corp. Gibson was killed in action in France on Feb. 6th was conveyed to the parents in letters from the Chaplain of the Regiment and Captain Hanbury, in command of the A Squadron, to which corp. Gibson belonged, and the utmost sympathy is extended to Mr. and Mrs. Gibson and family in their loss. Corp. Gibson was only 20 years of age, was educated at Oakham School, and at the time of the outbreak of the war was attending the Royal Veterinary College, London. He had been in the Leicester Yeomanry for two years before the war, and upon the mobilisation of the forces when war was declared, he left his studies and joined his regiment, with which he proceeded to France about October, 1914. He had had leave once since that period. Corp Gibson was one of the few who came out unhurt of the great battle of Ypres on the 13th May. He was a smart soldier in every way, and was greatly respected by all who knew him. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson have another son, corp. Wm. Gibson, in the Army Veterinary Corps.
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