GIBSON, William Bernard
| Service Number: | 4947 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 54th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | London, England, 18 October 1894 |
| Home Town: | North Sydney, North Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 20 July 1916, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Anzac Cemetery, Sailly-sur-la-Lys Anzac Cemetery (Plot II, Row I, Grave No I), Sailly- Sur-La-Lys, France, Anzac Cemetery, Sailly-sur-la-Lys, Nord Pas de Calais, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4947, 2nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 4947, 2nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 4947, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Sydney | |
| 20 Apr 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 4947, 54th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4947 awm_unit: 54th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-20 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
William was an English migrant that came to Australia with his family. He was a son of Norah and Charles Alfred Gibson, one of nine children. They settled in North Sydney, eventually residing at 31 Rosalind Street. William moved to Wallacia 60km west of Sydney where he worked as a farmer. Just after his 21st birthday, he enlisted in the AIF and left Sydney with the 2nd Battalion in early 1916.
William landed in Egypt, and was transferred to the 54th Battalion on the 20 April 1916. In mid-June, he and his new unit were shipped from Alexandria to the Western Front. Shortly after joining the frontline, the 5th Division were positioned for the Battle of Fromelles on the 19 July. He was seen to be killed by a heavy shell, and he listed as missing in action. Following an investigation, the army confirmed that he was killed in action 20 July 1916. Some time shortly after the battle his remains were found and re-interred them in the ANZAC Cemetery, Sailly-sur-la-Lys in France. He was reported in his service file as being buried there by a Reverend W.M. Holliday on 20 July 1916.
His father stated on his Roll of Honour form, “He was a clean thinking man, who always attempted to do the correct things, he joined the forces not for the love of war, but to take his share of the duty of all men in the world’s struggle for right versus might.”
His older brother, 2421 Pte. Edward Gibson 13th Battalion AIF, was later to die of wounds at Bullecourt on 13 April 1917, age 25.
Two other brothers, 1853 Walter George Gibson and 2933 Harold Gibson also served with the AIF and returned to Australia safely.
William Gibson’s father had many correspondences with Base Records regarding his four sons, and on 15 March 1921 wrote the following letter to Major Lean, “Sir, herewith find enclosed receipt for 3 photographs of my sons grave for which I thank you and take this opportunity of expressing my own and family’s thanks for the promptitude and courtesy we have always received from your Department and all others we have had to deal with re my two sons who were killed and my two sons who returned. The attention we have received has helped soften the load we had to bear in losing our dear boys, yours sincerely, C. Gibson.”
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