Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Henry Gibson was born at Gateshead in 1895, one of 14 children of whom only 12 survived he was the 2nd born of 10 brothers and 2 sisters. His father Henry Gibson born January 1st 1867 at Rothbury, Northumberland married at Belford in 1889 to Eleanor Wright born at Bamburgh, Northumberland in 1868 and settled about 6 miles away in the village of Lucker. Henry a general labourer had moved his family from Lucker to Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on to 123, Marian Street, Gateshead by 1901 where he was employed by the railway as a goods porter. By 1904 they had returned to Northumberland living at Shoreswood Colliery in the parish of Norham. Henry Gibson was now employed as a shepherd and supported his family with the help of Thomas (22) and John Henry (16) working as agricultural labourers.
On the outbreak of war John Henry Gibson enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, assigned as Private 15455 to the 8th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. After initial training close to home they were moved to Belton Park, Grantham and on April 4th as part of the new 11th Division assembled at Witley for final training. They sailed from Liverpool to Mundros as part of the 34th Brigade, 11th Northern Division arriving at Lala Baba, landing at Sulva Bay August 5th 1915.
They were withdrawn from Gallipoli to Imbros then on to Egypt where they took over the defence of the Suez Canal until being recalled to France, embarking at Alexandria July 3rd 1916, arriving as part of the reinforcements on the Somme.
Private 15455 John Henry Gibson Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action September 25th 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,246 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from the Commonwealth and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918 and have no known grave. He was 21 years old and single.
He had nominated his mother Ellen as sole beneficiary, she received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace
John Henry Gibson is remembered at Kirknewton on K15.01 and at Ford on F23.01
