Tyne Cot Memorial
Tyne Cot Memorial: Pauline Priano
Colin McMillan has provided the following:
William Gibson was born in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea in or about 1883. The census of 1891 shows that he was the 8 year old son of 44 year old George Gibson who was a stone mason, and 41 year old Josephine Gibson who was born in Germany. William had six siblings: Margaret A Gibson (18), Isabella Gibson (15), Agusta Gibson (13), Jacob Gibson (11), Josephine jnr Gibson (5) and James C Gibson (2). They, like their father, were all born in Newbiggin and the family were living in Sea View Lane in that town.
By 1901, although George still worked as a stone mason, many changes had taken place. The older sisters, Margaret, Isabella and Agusta, who would have been 28, 25 and 23 respectively, were no longer there. Similarly Josephine, who would have been 15, was gone, William was 19 and worked as a baker and James C, listed as Clemence, was still there. (He is also variously named on other documents as Clemens and Clement). The family were still living at Sea View Lane, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.
On 23rd February 1909 (shown as 20th February on another document), William married Dorothy Emma Gibson (nee Challoner) of Bullers Green, Morpeth, and by 1911 they were living at 3 St Georges Square, Morpeth. He was working as a baker vanman and was the father of I year old George William Gibson who was born on 6th April 1910. Two other children were born to the couple: Edward Gibson was born on 18th October 1911 and Dorothy Brierly Gibson was born on 30th March 1916.
William enlisted at Newcastle and was serving with 17th Battalion Manchester Regiment when he died on 30th April 1918.
When the CWGC were putting their records together his widow was living at 10 West Greens, Morpeth.
William Gibson is remembered in Morpeth on M17.01, M17.09, M17.17 and M17.31
