John Thomas Gibson (1895-1918)
Born in Stannifordam served with the 27th Battalion CEF died of wounds received near Arras
Born in Stannifordam, near Castleside in the Parish of Knitsley in January 1895, John Thomas was the third child and first son of steelworker William Gibson and his wife Betsy Ann. He was baptised two months later in the Primitive Methodist Chapel at Shotley Bridge.
On 3rd May 1902 William and Betsy and their four children, aged from three to ten years old, arrived at Quebec City, Canada aboard SS Tunisian from Liverpool. Four years later they had settled to a farming life in Gunton, Manitoba and their family had grown with the addition of young James.
On 4th April 1916 John Thomas enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) in Winnipeg as Private 922218 of the 200th Battalion. A month later the Battalion sailed aboard the SS Megantic to Liverpool and on arrival were posted to camp at Shorncliffe, Kent, where they were absorbed into the 11th Reserve Battalion.
On 21st June Private Gibson was posted to the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion, as part of the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division. He joined them at Estree Cauchie northwest of Arras in late August 1916.
In November John Thomas was part of a working party at Neuville St Vaast, on the leeward side of Vimy Ridge when he was gassed. He was evacuated to 4th and then 5th Field Ambulance Stations before being discharged on 1st December.
1st March 1918 saw him missing a working party parade for which he received seven days’ punishment.
On 27th April 1918 during fighting on the front line at Mercatel, Private John Thomas Gibson was wounded in the chest, abdomen and left buttock. He was evacuated to 6th Field Ambulance Station and then to the 3rd Stationary Hospital, Doullens, where he died from his wounds the following day. He is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.1 and he is commemorated on Teulon War Memorial, Manitoba.
Civil Parish: Knitsley
Birth date: 12-Jan-1895
Death date: 28-April-1918
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Stannifordam, Consett (birthplace)
Oliver Terrace, Consett (1901 census)
Gunton, Manitoba, Canada (1906 census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta)
Religion: Methodist
Employment: Farmer (1906 census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta)
Family: Parents: William Gibson, Elizabeth (Betsy) Ann Gibson (nee Cuthbertson)
Siblings: Mary Gibson, Catherine Hannah Gibson, George Gibson
Military service:
922218
Private
200th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF)
11th Reserve Battalion, CEF
27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion, CEF
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No 1
Commemorated on Teulon War Memorial, Manitoba.
Gender: Male
Contributed by Jean Longstaff, Durham | Jim Busby, Canada