South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 2302 Francis Edgar GIBBS MM - 23rd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment

Killed in action on Monday 25th June 1917 aged 20


Military History

     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders Military Medal, British War & Victory Medals Bus House Cemetery 
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
3 May 1916 in Le Havre, France Awarded Military Medal (Gazette) Stratford on Avon WW1 Memorial
    Stratford Holy Trinity Church 
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died Date and Place Enlisted Stratford Cemetery Memorial 
Local actions near Ypres 8 Nov 1915 in Birmingham  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
Hollebeke, Ypres ~ Moreton in Marsh & Batsford Memorial
     

Circumstances of Death

Francis is listed as being killed in action of the 25th June 1917. The 23rd Battalion war diary entries for the period 24th to 26th June are transcribed below.

Left of Canal – 24.6.1917: Our artillery drop a creeping barrage on enemy shell holes S of Hollebeke. Enemy retaliate a litte.

Enemy’s aeroplanes still very active. They fly very low over our trenches. Our Lewis guns and machine guns open fire but are of little success.

9.30pm: 11 R W Surrey Regt. relieve us. Coy in reserve line relieved first, then front line and support Line.

11pm: Relief complete. Battalion return to Old French Trench taking up a position to the left of Shelley dump & Arundell House. Casualties 4 O.R. wounded.

Old French Trench – 25.6.1917: Our artillery drops a creeping barrage on the enemys’ shell holes south of Hollebeke

9am: Old French Trench slightly shelled. Enemy’s artillery appears to be registering

3pm: Heavy shelling of our position. A & B Coy take up new positions in Convent Lane and Shelley Lane.

8pm: Battalion HQ establishes in Sap at the top of Convent Lane.

9.30pm: Intense bombardment by our artillery.

Casualties 70 O.R. wounded, 5 O.R. killed.

Old French Trench – 26.6.1917: Enemy’s artillery very active. C Coy takes up new position in Victoria Street East & West remainder of day reasonably quiet.

Casualties 10 O.R. killed, 10 O.R. wounded.



 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1896 in Moreton in Marsh 11 Oct 1896 in Moreton in Marsh
   
Parents Names Abode
Samuel Edwin and Charlotte Gibbs 17 Bordon Place, Strafford-on-Avon                                 
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1896 - East Street, Moreton in Marsh 1911 - Apprentice Tailor
1901 - East Street, Moreton in Marsh 1915 - Shop Assistant
1911 - 1 East Street, Moreton in Marsh  
1915 - 1 East Street, Moreton in Marsh  
1915 - 9 Ely Street, Stratford on Avon (father)  
1915 - 19 Park Road, Stratford on Avon (pension card)  
1918 - 17 Bordon Place, Strafford-on-Avon (CWGC)