GIBBONS, Alfred Richard
| Service Number: | 71 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 March 1915, Boulder, Western Australia |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 28th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Balhannah, South Australia, 14 July 1880 |
| Home Town: | Fremantle, Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Belgium, 14 October 1916, aged 36 years |
| Cemetery: |
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Balhannah Old Scholars Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 71, Boulder, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Jul 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 71, 28th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Jul 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 71, 28th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Fremantle | |
| 14 Oct 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 71, 28th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 71 awm_unit: 28 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1916-10-14 |
Alfred Gibbons
Name: Alfred Richard Gibbons
Service Number: 71
Place of Birth: Balhannah
Date of Birth: 14 July 1880
Place of Enlistment: Boulder, W.A.
Date of Enlistment: 2 March 1915
Age at Enlistment: 34 years
Next of Kin: Mother, Caroline Gibbons
Occupation: Labourer
Religion: Church of England
Rank: Corporal
Alfred embarked with the 28th Battalion on H.T. Ivernia on 4 September 1915 bound for the Gallipoli Peninsula where he fought until the evacuation. He was appointed a temporary Corporal on 10 October. Early 1916 he served in Egypt prior to going to France with his unit on 21 March. Alfred was admitted to hospital with mumps on 20 April and rejoined his unit on 27 May. Another temporary appointment as Sergeant occurred on 6 September. Alfred sustained multiple wounds during action in Belgium on 12 October and died a week later. He was buried at Lijssenthock Military Cemetery in France. His mother was notified of her son’s death on 25 October.
Submitted 22 October 2023 by christopher collins
Biography
Embarkation Roll (www.awm.gov.au) incorrectly records the Christian Name as Alfred Ronald GIBBONS - Service Record (recordsearch.naa.gov.au) and Birth Records show full name as Alfred Richard GIBBONS
"LATE SGT. A. R. GIBBONS.
Mrs. C. Gibbons, of Balhannah, has been officially informed that her third son, Sgt. A. R. Gibbons, has died from gunshot wounds received while fighting in France. The deceased soldier was born at Balhannah, and received his education there. At an early age he went to Western Australia, where he took up mining, and remained there until his enlistment. He left Australia with the first overseas contingent, and saw active service at the historic landing at Gallipoli. After the evacuation he was sent to Egypt, where he again saw service on the canal. Eventually he was sent to France, and remained there until the time of his death. The deceased, who was in his thirty-seventh year, was highly respected by all who knew him." - from the Adelaide Observer 11 Nov 1916 (nla.gov.au)
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