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 405703 George Gibson
- Age: 18
- From: Liverpool
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
- K.I.A Friday 27th July 1917
- Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6
George Gibson was born on the 30th October, 1898 at Liverpool the son of Jervis Gibson and his wife Jane (née Deane) who were married on the 26th September 1893 at St George’s Church, Everton. Jervis was a widowed 39 year old police officer of Fairy Street, father Joseph a farmer, whilst Jane was aged 26 of 2 Mount Joy Street, father Charles a mariner.
George was baptised on the 14th November 1898 at St Peter, C. of E. Church, Liverpool.
Jervis was first married to Frances Ann Hancock on the 11th November 1875 at Christ Church, Everton. Jervis was a 22 year old police officer of 101 Buckingham Street, whilst Frances was aged 21, same address, father James a miller.
On the 1891 census they are living at 99 Seacombe Street with two of their four children, Sarah 10 and James 5.
Annie, as she was known, died aged 38 in 1892.
George was educated at Newsham School, Liverpool.
The 1901 Census shows the family living at 48 Rendal Street, Liverpool. His father, Jervis, is aged 46, born in Ireland in 1855 and is a police pensioner, his mother, Jane, is aged 33, born in Liverpool in 1868, has no occupation listed. They have three children in the household, Charles D. aged 6, born 1894, George aged 2 and Thomas B. aged 4 months, born 1900. The children were all born in Liverpool.
After his father’s death, aged 52, in 1906 George was recorded as a 12 year old inmate in 1911 at the Liverpool and Bootle Police Orphanage, 1 Speke Road, Woolton.
The 1911 Census shows his widowed mother, aged 43, an office cleaner, now living at 20 Starkie Street, Brunswick Road, Liverpool with her son Charles, aged 16, an office messenger.
His brother Charles won the military medal in 1916. It was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday 04th October 1916:
Information has been received that the Military Medal has been bestowed upon Bombardier Charles Dean Gibson, R.F.A., son of the late Mr. Jervis Gibson, who for many years was a member the Liverpool constabulary (177 D). The mother of the heroic young soldier, who lives at 42, Baker-Street, West Derby-road, has received letter of congratulation from the commanding officer, in which he says: —“The same award was given to Gunner Craig, of my battery, these being the first awards gained by any of my men. Your son has always been hard-working and absolutely reliable, and for that reason was chosen to be one of a small party to do some important work last August. Your son ran with several messages after all telephone wires were cut beyond repair by very heavy shell fire. He got through with most valuable information by those means. I must heartily congratulate you, and feel sure that in doing this I am joined by every officer and man in the battery."
George enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 405703 when he was killed in action on the 27th July 1917, aged 18.
The 19th Battalion Diary records the events of the day as follows:
In the area of MUNCQ NIEURLET.
CANAL RESERVE CAMP.
TRENCHES.
"Very heavy shelling during the day on front and support lines. Our artillery was also very active during the day and night. At night 'B' Company relieved 'C' Company in the front line. Later word was received that the Germans had retired on our left and 'D' Company were immediately sent into the front line to reinforce 'B' Company. Patrols of the 16th Battalion, Manchester Regiment pushed forward but returned just before daybreak after finding the enemy trenches were occupied, and at the same time 'D' Company returned to the support line from the front line".
His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on Saturday 25th August 1917:
GIBSON— July 27, in action, aged 19 years, Private GEORGE GIBSON, K.L.R., the dearly loved son of Jane and the late Jervis Gibson, 42 Baker-street, Kensington. (Deeply mourned by his sorrowing mother and brothers.)
He gave his dear young life
So nobly and brave
He was reported killed in Weekly Casualty List on the 28th August 1917.
King’s Liverpool Regiment) - Gibson, 405703, G. (Liverpool);
His death was also reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on Saturday 01st September 1917:
Private Geo. Gibson, K.L.R., age 19 years, son of Mrs Gibson of 42 Baker Street, Kensington, was killed in action on July 27. He joined up early in the war, being previously employed by Ogden's Ltd, Boundary Lane.
George's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.
The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.
The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.
His army pay was shared £5 16s to his mother Jane and £5 8s 6d to brother Charles. The war gratuity of £12 and pension of 3/6 pw to Jane, 42 Baker Street, Kensington.
He was remembered by his family, on the first anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo on Saturday 27th July 1918:
GIBSON—In loving memory my dear son, GEORGE, killed action, July 26(sic), 1917, aged 19 years.
Just when his hopes were brightest,
God called him home rest.
Never forgotten by his sorrowing Mother and Brothers, 42, Baker-street (Charles in France).
On the 1921 Census his mother is aged 52, an office cleaner at the Liverpool City Police Office, Dale Street, and her two sons are police constables.
His mother died, aged 69, on the 18th March 1937.
Her death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Monday 22nd March 1937:
GIBSON— March 18, suddenly at son's residence, 10 Barnhey Green, Eaton-road, aged 69, JANE, beloved mother of Charles Gibson. Funeral at Anfield Cemetery, to-day (Monday), at 2 p.m.
George is also commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 48.
We currently have no further information on George Gibson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
Killed On This Day.
(109 Years this day)Friday 27th July 1917.
Pte 54142 Reginald Thomas Foxley
19 years old
(109 Years this day)
Friday 27th July 1917.
Pte 405703 George Gibson
18 years old
(109 Years this day)
Friday 27th July 1917.
Pte 57896 George William Giles
30 years old
(109 Years this day)
Friday 27th July 1917.
Pte 52140 William (Billy) Jones
20 years old
(109 Years this day)
Friday 27th July 1917.
Cpl 17412 Albert Lightfoot
28 years old
(109 Years this day)
Friday 27th July 1917.
Pte 243873 Thomas Henry Lyon
21 years old
(109 Years this day)
Friday 27th July 1917.
Pte 406610 Thomas George Secombe
32 years old
(109 Years this day)
Friday 27th July 1917.
Pte 405666 George Thomas Wynne
39 years old