Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 37895 John Bibby

Age: 26
From: Bootle, Liverpool
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
K.I.A Sunday 22nd October 1916
Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

John (Jack) William Bibby was born in the December quarter of 1889 at 82 Handel Street, Toxteth to Liverpool born John Bibby and his wife, Prescot born wife Martha (née Johnson) who were married on 09th September 1884 at St Michael in the Hamlet Church, Toxteth. John snr was a 27 year old carter of Liffey Street, father William a master carter, whilst widow Martha was aged 32 also of Liffey Street, father Joseph Johnson a carter. John jnr was their third and last child. He had an elder brother James and elder sister Martha Ellen.

His mother’s first marriage was to 33 year old carter William Parkinson on Christmas Day 1875 at St James, Toxteth, and they had two daughters, Sarah Isabella(b.1880) and Martha Ellen(b.1882 d.1883). William died aged 41 in 1883.

The 1891 Census shows the family at 82 Handel Street, Toxteth. His father, John, is aged 32, and employed as a carter, his mother, Martha, is aged 39, together with Martha's daughter, Sarah I., from her first marriage to William Parkinson, James 6, Martha 3, and John 1.

On 12th December 1900 when John was only aged 11, his mother, Martha, died aged 47 and was buried at West Derby Cemetery.

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 15 December 1900;

A LIVERPOOL INQUEST. Yesterday, Mr. T. E. Sampson, the Liverpool city coroner, had an inquest concerning the death of Martha Bibby, 47 years of age, who resided in Goswell-street. The deceased was the wife of a builder's labourer, who stated that since he married her seventeen years ago she was until twelve months ago in the habit of getting drunk once or twice a week at least. She had since drunk to greater excess, getting intoxicated three or four times a week. She became ill and had to be removed to the Mill-road Infirmary, where she died on Wednesday. Dr. R. D. Clark said he had made a post-mortem examination, and death was due to alcoholism, associated with some irritant poison, probably arsenic. The Coroner, addressing the jury, said he did not think any useful purpose would be served by having an analysis made. Assuming that death was due to arsenical poisoning, and that that arsenic was got through drinking beer, it was extremely doubtful whether it would have been sufficient to cause death, unless accompanied by this excessive drinking for years. Possibly the matter might be met by the jury returning a verdict that death was due to alcoholic neuritis accelerated by some irritant poison, but what that poison was there was not sufficient evidence to show. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with this suggestion.

The April 1901 Census at 3 Goswell Street, Wavertree, Liverpool, shows John, aged 10, and James, a shop boy aged 15, living with their widowed father, a builders labourer aged 44.

On 08th June 1908 his elder brother James married Minnie Boyce, half sister to Mary Moon who John married 13 months later.

On 25th July 1909, aged 19, but declaring he was aged 20 John married Liverpool born Mary Moon, aged 24, daughter of railway shunter James Moon, Daulby Street. The wedding took place at St. Peter's Church in Liverpool.

Their first child, Dorothy, was born on 22nd February 1910.

The 1911 Census shows John, aged 21, a builders labourer, Mary aged 27, and Dorothy, aged 1, living at 65 Rokesmith Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool.

On 26th June 1912 another daughter, Ivy, was born. Followed on 22nd September 1913 by their third and final child Rose.

John enlisted into the 20th Battalion (Pals) of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 37895. His brother James also enlists joining the 18th Battalion (Pals) K.L.R. as Private 33964.

Formed in November 1914 the 20th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

His medal index card shows that Jack earned two medals which shows that he did not reach France until 1916.

He was killed in action on 22nd October 1916, aged 26, although he, like so many others, was initially posted as Wounded.

20th Battalion War Diary

GUEUDECOURT.

21.10.16 - Digging new trench.

22.10.16 - Completed trench by 4 a.m., was labelled SALMON TRENCH and handed over on relief.

2nd Lt Maddick was relieved in front line by 2nd Lt Worsley and evacuated sick. Heavy artillery very active, continuous barrage was put on our front line and support trenches. Considerable aircraft activity on both sides during the day. In accordance with 89th Inf. Bde. O.O. No. 62 the Battn. was relieved by the 29th Australian Infantry at 10 30 p.m. the Battalion moving to bivouacs near MAMETZ WOOD arriving about 4 30 a.m. and on 23rd.

He was reported as Wounded in the Liverpool Daily Post on Monday 11 December 1916:

King’s (Liverpool Regiment) - Bibby, 37895, J.;

He was reported as Missing in the Liverpool Express on 12th January 1917 under the header:

MISSING SOLDIERS

Private Jack Bibby 37895 King's (Liverpool) is reported wounded and missing in France on October 22. Prior to enlisting he was employed at Messrs Cains. His sister, Mrs Jones, 102 Needham-road,Edge Hill, Liverpool would be glad of any information.

His Soldiers Effects, Pay arrears of £2: 10s: 6d was sent to his widow Mary at 8 Acton Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool on 20th October 1917. Pension of 26/3 pw to widow Mary, children Dorothy, Ivy, Rose.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Tuesday 16 October 1917:

IN MEMORIAM.

MOON - In loving memory our dear Jim, died October 15, 1914. Also, our brother-in-law, Private John Bibby, K.L.R., killed in France. Never forgotten by Mother, Sister, Brothers Ted, and Harold and Will (in India), and his loving Wife and Children, 6, Claypole Street.

Their days toil are o'er,

Their rest is won.

Jack's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

On the 1921 Census at 27 Carno St, Wavertree, Mary Jeffs is aged 37, George, aged 40, is a labourer, born Kingsley, Cheshire, with children Edith 11, William 7, Thomas 3, Harold 1, also Dorothy and Rose Bibby. She died aged 88 in 1972.

In late 1917 his brother James was discharged from the 18th Pals and received a disability pension.

On 24 December 1918 his widow Mary remarried to widower George Jeffs at St Nathaniel's Church, Liverpool. Mary's half sister Jane Boyce is a witness.

George takes on her three daughters.

On 04th September 1919 Mary was sent a War Gratuity of £3.

On the 1921 Census at 27 Carno Street, Wavertree, Mary Jeffs is aged 37, George, aged 40, is a labourer, born Kingsley, Cheshire, with children Edith 11, William 7, Thomas 3, Harold 1, also Dorothy and Rose Bibby. She died, aged 88, in 1972.

We currently have no further information on John Bibby, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Grateful thanks are extended to Joe Devereux for allowing permission for us to use the photograph of Jack Bibby on this site.

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