Name
David Angus Gibbs
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/03/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own)
6th Bn., attached 2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 81 to 84.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial, St Peter’s Church Memorial, Bushey Heath
Pre War
Born on 14th July 1898 and baptised in East Hanningfield, Chelmsford, Essex, David Angus Gibbs was the second son of Dr David Cecil and Mary Elizabeth (née Hart) Gibbs. Their eldest son (b. Q3 1897) was Charles Cobden Stuart Gibbs.
David (Jnr.) also had an older half-brother, Cecil Armstrong Gibbs, who was born to David (Snr.) and his first wife, Ida (born in Lancashire), in 1889. The family was then living at 1 Maldon Road, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex, having previously lived at 10, Springfield, Stamford Hill, Hackney. Ida died at the age of 26 in 1891, having given birth to a still-born son.
Cecil was to become a prolific and versatile composer, best known for his output of songs and his work ‘Dusk’ was requested by Queen Elizabeth II on her eighteenth birthday.
David (Snr.) and Mary had two further sons; Geoffrey Maxwell (b 1901) and Walter Haliburton (b 1904). initially lived at ‘Vineyards’, Great Baddow, Essex. His father was a soap and chemical manufacturer and the family employed five servants.
By the time of the 1901 Census, the family had moved to ‘Vinyards’, Geat Baddow, Chelmsford, with David aged 2 and Geoffrey aged less than 1mth.
By 1911 the family had moved again, this time to Hertfordshire and were living at ‘The Wintons’, The Rutts, Bushey Heath. David was now 12 and he and Geoffrey, aged 13, were pupils at The Wick, Furze Hill, a private boarding school in Hove, Sussex. Their father, who was considerably older than his mother, died the following year, aged 61.
David (Jnr.) subsequently went to Mr. Thring's school at Brighton and from there to Winchester College between 1912 and 1916. He was a keen sportsman and represented his House at Cricket, Gymnastics and Fives.
Wartime Service
David enlisted as Private 28789 with the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry before gaining a commission in July 1917 as Second Lieutenant with the 2nd Rifle Brigade. He went to France the following month and fell in action at Pargny, near Chaulnes, on March 24th 1918, while acting as scout officer to his battalion. His body was never recovered.
He is commemorated on panels 81-84 of the Pozieres Memorial on the Somme. He is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial and in a stained-glass window given in his memory is in the St George’s Chapel at St Peter’s Church Bushey Heath. The World War 1 Biographies of Winchester College also include a record for David.
His medals were requested by a Mrs Irwell, c/o Miss Hart of Percival House, Great Baddow, Essex.
Additional Information
Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Jonty Wild
