William Henry Irvine Gibson

Submitted by kiamalibrary on Thu, 18/09/2014 - 16:32

First Name:

William

Middle Name:

Henry Irvine

Last Name:

Gibson

Date of Birth:

Thursday, August 1, 1895

Mother's Name:

Verjetta Elizabeth

Father's Name:

William

Date Enlisted:

Friday, December 3, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Unit:

1st Battalion, 16th Reinforcement

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914-1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Saturday, July 22, 1916

Place of Death:

Pozieres

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

William Henry Irvine Gibson (Service No 5103) was born in August 1895 at Jamberoo, the son of Verjetta Elizabeth Gibson.
William, a labourer, was a member of the famous Waratah March. At the time of enlistment, he had two years and five months experience with the 37th Illawarra Regiment in Kiama, holding the rank of Company-Sergeant-Major.

William embarked on board HMAT SS Makarini on 1 April 1916, as Acting Corporal. He was a member of the 1st Battalion, 16th Reinforcements. Alongside William were other Kiama soldiers, William Bedford, Cyril Brandon, Richard Cooke, Joseph Cooper, Claude Edwards, John Edwards, Lance Edwards, Ernest Fisher, John Hanrahan, John Henderson, Alfred Hinde, Alfred King, Ernest Lucas, Richard McDonald, William Ranyard, Thomas Simpson, Henry Warner and Henry Warren.

Private Gibson died alongside fellow Kiama soldiers Henry Warren and John Hanrahan at Poziers, just shy of his 21st birthday. Also dying of wounds a few days later were Richard McDonald, Ernest Fisher and Joseph Cooper. All of these men were from the Waratah March. This battle saw six of the twenty three Waratahs from Kiama, Gerringong and Jamberoo killed.

Private Gibson has a panel reference at Villers-Bretonneux. He also has his name located on panel 29 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, GIBSON W H I