Pte 32703 George Henry Gibson

• Age: 20
• From: Wheelock, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 2nd August 1916
• Commemorated at: Corbie Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: II.A.28

George Henry Gibson was born in the third quarter of 1896, the son of Arthur Bison Gibson and his wife Jessie (nee Metcalf). He was baptised in Wheelock, Cheshire on 26th July 1896, his parents address shown as Wheelock Heath and his father's occupation is that of a labourer.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Bold Street, Haslington. His father, Arthur, is a 43 year old blacksmith, born in Wheelock, Cheshire, his mother, Jessie, is 38 years of age, born in Shavington, Cheshire. They have seven children in the household; Arthur M. is a 20 year old labourer, James M. aged 17 is also a labourer, as is 15 year old Leonard W., Beatrice is 11, John Clifton is 9, George Henry is 4 and Wilfrid is 2. 

George enlisted in Crewe and was serving as Private 32703 with the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment when he died of wounds on 02nd August 1916, aged 20.  It is not known when George received his wounds.

He now rests at Corbie Communal Cemetery, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN"

Corbie was about 20 kilometres behind the front when Commonwealth forces took over the line from Berles-au-Bois southward to the Somme in July 1915. The town immediately became a medical centre, with Nos 5 and 21 Casualty Clearing Stations based at La Neuville (the suburb across the Ancre) until October 1916 and April 1917 respectively. In November 1916 the front moved east, but the German advance in the Spring of 1918 came within 10 kilometres of the town and brought with it field ambulances of the 47th Division and the 12th Australian Field Ambulance. The communal cemetery was used for burials until May 1916, when the plot set aside was filled and the extension opened. The majority of the graves in the extension are of officers and men who died of wounds in the 1916 Battle of the Somme. The remainder relate to the fighting of 1918. The communal cemetery contains 249 First World War burials, the extension 918. The extension was designed by Charles Holden.

George Henry earned two medals; the Victory Medal and the British War Medal, indicating that he didn't serve overseas until 1916.

He is commemorated on the following Memorials:

St Matthew's Church, Haslington

Haslington Roll of Honour and Memorial Book.

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