Christ will link the broken chain closer when we meet again
Paul Heatherington has submitted the following:-
William was born in Bridgehill in the summer of 1896. His father was William Gibb, a coal miner, born in Craster, Northumberland. His mother was Sarah (née Wright) born in Blackhill. William was the fourth child in his family. His siblings were named Sarah, James Henry, Wilhelmina, Simpson, and Thomasina Archbold.
In 1901, the family were living at 5 Bridgehill.
In 1911, they were at 14 Thomas Street, Blackhill. William, at fourteen years of age, was working underground as a coal miner driver.
William enlisted in Consett on the 20th October 1914, aged nineteen years. At that time, he was 5’ 6’’ tall, weighed 9 and a half stone, and had a chest measurement of 36½’’. It was noted that he had blue eyes, light brown hair and a sallow complexion. He was a member of the Church of England.
William served as a Private in the Durham Light Infantry. He died in France, of wounds, on the 22nd October 1918.
William Gibb is remembered at Shotley Bridge on S27.03
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 292
