Gibbs Family Tree

Lieut. Colonel William Beresford Gibbs

Male 1881 - 1916  (35 years)


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  • Name William Beresford Gibbs 
    Title Lieut. Colonel 
    Birth 24 Feb 1881  Abingdon, Berkshire Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Vicarage
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1891  Hagley, Worcestershire Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Age: 10; Relation to Head of House: Son 
    Death 3 Sep 1916  Thiepval, Somme, Picardie, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Killed in Action in the Great War
    Burial Blighty Valley Cemetery, Albert, Somme, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • 2nd son. Baptised at St. Helen's, Abingdon 24 February 1881. Educated at Wellington College, 1896-9. Died unmarried 3 September 1916, being killed in action in the Great War near Thiepval, France, and was buried at Authuille (or Blighty Valley) Cemetery. Memorial Inscription there and Memorial window at Hagley. Administration London 25 November 1916.

      Was in the Wellington and the Sandhurst Rugby Football teams (full back). 2nd Lieut. Worcestershire Regt. 1900; Lieut. 1901; Capt. 1904; Major 1915; Temp. Lieut.-Col. August 1916; served in the South African (Boer) war of 1899-1902 with 2nd Bn. Worcesters and 5th Mounted Infantry Brigade (Queen's medal and 3 clasps, King's medal and 2 clasps). Afterwards was with 2nd Worcesters in India and Ceylon till 1908 when he seconded to the Egyptian Army and served with the 13th Sudanese; was 2nd in command of Camel Corps and staff officer to an expedition against the Annaks and Colonel (Bey) of the 15th Sudanese Regt.

      In the Great War given leave in May 1916 to rejoin the Wore. Regt. he was posted to the 3rd Bn. in France as 2nd in command. From July was in full command of the Bn. and at the assault of the Hindenburg Trench near Thiepval on 24th August, when his and the 1st Bn. of the Wilts. Regt. took 100 prisoners and 22 machine guns of the Prussian Guard Regt., his Bn. was specially thanked by Sir D. Haig. Killed on 3 Sep. by a sniper's bullet while reconnoitring. Mentioned in despatches 13 November 1916. British war medal and Allies' (Victory) medal of the Great War, issued to his mother. Order of the Nile.

      He was an exceptionally fine rider and won many races in India, Ceylon, Egypt and Khartoum, and played in the principal Polo tournaments there. Included in Wisden's Cricketers Almanack for ten years after his death in "Births & Deaths of Cricketers".

      Portrait: Pastel by W. E. Miller 1883 last in possession of his nephew Beresford.

    • Devon Remembers - GIBBS William Beresford http://www.devonremembers.co.uk/content/the-honoured/gibbs-william-beresford
    Person ID I2765  Gibbs Family Tree
    Last Modified 21 Jun 2021 

    Father Rev. William Cobham Gibbs,   b. 28 Jul 1845, Wraxall, Somerset Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Mar 1918, East Budleigh, Devon Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 72 years) 
    Mother Annie Katharina Downall,   b. 26 Sep 1846, Wolverley, Worcestershire Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 Dec 1924, East Budleigh, Devon Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years) 
    Marriage 6 Feb 1879  Exwick, Devon Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1127  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 24 Feb 1881 - Abingdon, Berkshire Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Age: 10; Relation to Head of House: Son - 1891 - Hagley, Worcestershire Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 3 Sep 1916 - Thiepval, Somme, Picardie, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Blighty Valley Cemetery, Albert, Somme, France Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Documents
    UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929 - William Beresford Gibbs Lt.-Col.-3.jpeg
    UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929 - William Beresford Gibbs Lt.-Col.-3.jpeg