My Relatives
Paternal Grandfather:
Dvr. Alfred Charles Henry Gibson

166(S)
Royal Marine Artillery
Enlisted:                        1st October 1914
Born:                             23rd May 1884   at Scarletts Lodge, Wargrave, Wokingham, Berkshire. Son of Joshua Gibson, Master Baker, and Laura Eugenia Gibson, formerly Bates.
Married:                         27th May 1911 Jessie Croft Tovey at Suffolk House, Bolingbroke Road, Hammersmith. Daughter of Robert Lucas Tovey, Omnibus Driver.
Died:           Age 31         21st April 1916

Pulmonary Tuberculosis 3 months, at 33 Havelock Road, Hammersmith.                                               

J. Gibson, widow of deceased present at the death.

Dvr. Gibson qualified for the Mons Star, he was one of the London Bus Drivers that went straight out to transport the BEF. He was discharged on 1st September 1915 ‘Services no longer required for the war’ His character was described as V.G.

Am I being cynical or did the Service know that he had TB and released him to avoid paying a widows pension? If so they need not have bothered, see below.

 

A postcard sent to my Father. It is written in pencil and is difficult to read, as is the post mark.

 

Post Mark: St. Omer, Pas de Calais. 9th November 1914.

 

My darling Alfie,

I am sending my photo to you hoping you will keep it as long as you can so as you can always say this is my Dad.

Your everloving Dad

 

I think the Driver is Alfred C H Gibson

 
Paternal Grand Mother:
Jessie Croft Gibson
Born:                         17th August 1891 at 7 Myrtle Road, Leyton. Daughter of Robert Lucas Tovey, Omnibus Driver, and Jane Tovey, formerly Croft.
Married:                         27th May 1911 Alfred Charles Henry Gibson at Suffolk House, Bolingbroke Road, Hammersmith.
Children:                                     1912 Alfred Robert Goodchild Gibson
                              20th October 1913 Female child, died 21 October 1913
Died:      Age 27        27th October 1918

Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

I think it is beyond doubt that she caught TB from her husband and was one of many civilian casualties of the conflict.

Uncle:

Cpl. Port, William George          No. 12610

7th Bn. B Coy. Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own, Yorkshire Regiment.

Enlisted: Camberwell, London

Born:      29th June 1898.

             Lived 6 Cator Street, Peckham, London.

Killed in Action         22nd February 1916                Age 17.

Commemorated: Vormezeele Enclosure No. 3 Belgium. Plot 12, Row A, Grave 14.

I understand that he originally tried to join the London Regiment, but some men from the same street informed the recruitment staff of his true age and he was sent home. He subsequently went to the recruitment office for the Yorkshire Regiment and was accepted, I don’t think much in the way of enquiry was made regarding age, they accepted or even prompted the correct reply. His age at the time he was sent to Flanders must have been 19 as far as the Army was concerned, as that was the minimum official age for an overseas posting.

 

William is on the left with a picture of me on the right at almost the same age. William was one of my Mother’s Brothers and a letter that he sent home shortly before my Mother was born is reproduced below. I do not know whether he saw my Mother before he was killed, but we are sure that he was told of her birth. Both of the other Brothers suffered at Ypres in gas attacks which affected their breathing for the rest of their lives. However, I was too young to ask questions and like most families the first war was rarely if ever mentioned and certainly never in their presence.

Uncle:
Pte. Jerwood, Thomas No. 47933
2nd Bn. Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
Enlisted: Camberwell, London
Born: Peckham. Son of John and Harriett Jerwood of 113 Bird-in-Bush Road, Peckham.
Married: Charlotte Alice Port at All Saints Church, North Peckham, 9th December 1916. He        was age 26 and she was 22.
Died: Killed in Action Friday 22 March 1918.
Commemorated: Pozieres Memorial.  Panel  26 and 27
Thomas Jerwood’s sister, Rae, married Percy Port, the Brother of William and Charlotte.
Charlotte married Edward Arthur Greenwood in the parish church of Camberwell, London on 29 September 1919. He was age 34 and she was then 26. Edward was the CSM of William’s regiment and wrote the above letter to William’s parents and met Charlotte when he returned William’s personal effects.
James John Jerwood was killed 19 February 1918 and I believe he was a cousin of Thomas.