MCKIBBIN, Hugh
| Service Number: | 3207 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 November 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 52nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Belfast, Ireland, August 1894 |
| Home Town: | Tweed Heads, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | GSW to abdomen 25/8/1917, 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, France, 27 August 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, Nord Pas de Calais Trois-Arbres Cemetery (Plot I, Row Y, Grave No. 8), Steenwerck, France, Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, Nord Pas de Calais, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Nov 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3207, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Dec 1916: | Involvement Private, 3207, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Dec 1916: | Embarked Private, 3207, 52nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Sydney |
Help us honour Hugh McKibbin's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Roberta Mckibbin
PTE HUGH McKIBBIN....52nd Btn, AIF
I don’t have any photos of him but I came across this man, Hugh McKibbin, when looking at war records for relatives. He was born in Belfast, Ireland, to James and Martha (either née or 2nd marriage, Burns) McKibbin. He joined up 17th November, 1916, in Casino, NSW...his address is given as Billambil, NSW....and was in 52nd Btn, 13th Infantry Bde, AIF. He was 22 years and 3 months old. Sadly he died of gunshot wounds to the stomach at the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 27th August, 1917, in what I think was the month of his birth. Hugh was buried at Trois Arbres, Steenwerch, but I think reburied later in 1924. It would appear that Hugh had not agreed with his family, had had a few problems, and had left home and come to Australia. The following is a copy of a letter that he wrote to his family which appears to be his will. —————————————————————————
“Dear Mother & Father, Just a few lines to let you know that I am keeping well, and we cant write much in the line we had a pretty rough time and I received your (par) pircel all right I am very (burss) sorry I couldnt right sooner I was very sorry about the money matters but I tried my best but what I promise I all ways do I go to late about things but I made my will fore you I only get 2 shillings a day 4/- left a day we cant draw any thing over a day but if anything hapengs you get the lot its all the same whenever any thing hapengs If I return save again I be coming (home) again for good and I never leave home again for its the best place on earth and I dont know what happened me at home. It must been bad (comply) chums I had to works when I left home this is all I can say at present and I hope I shall see you again (I) till all my frends that I was asking for them tell all my Brothers & Sisters that I send my best love to them God Bless you all. —————————————————————————
Certified to be a true copy of the Holograph Will of No. 3207 Pte. McKIBBEN, Hugh, 52nd Battalion, A.I.F. Sgt, Estates Branch, Adm. Hqrs., London”
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This made me very sad to think that he had left his family perhaps in not so happy circumstances and had obviously not seen them for some time and never would again. I hope he has been reunited with his family wherever he might be now. He was 23 years old. RIP Hugh McKibbin
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