Private George GIBSON (1879-1918).
NZEF # 14968; Private, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 12th (Nelson) Company, 14th Reinforcements, New Zealand Expeditionary Forces (NZEF).
Born 24 July 1879 - at Kaikoura, Marlborough Region, South Island, New Zealand.
George was the son of James Gibson - of Kaikoura.
Prior to enlistment for war service George Gibson was a Farmer - at Kaikoura.
George Gibson enlisted for war service - on 8 March 1916 - at Trentham Military Training Camp, Wellington Region, North Island, New Zealand. He was 37 years of age.
At enlistment George Gibson was posted as a Private with the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 14th Reinforcements, NZEF.
On 26 June 1916 Private Gibson left New Zealand for overseas war service - with the 14th Reinforcements NZEF - aboard HMNZ T57 "Maunganui" - from Port of Wellington, North Island, New Zealand.
Private Gibson disembarked from his transport ship from New Zealand - on 23 August 1916 - at Devonport, England.
On 14 September 1916 Private Gibson left England for war service at France & Belgium.
At France he was posted to the 12th (Nelson) Company - of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment NZEF.
The following year - on 28 September 1917 - Private Gibson was admitted, sick, to the No 2 (New Zealand) General Hospital, at Walton on Thames, England.
On 10 October 1918 Private Gibson returned to France.
On 17 October 1918 - Private Gibson re-joined his company - the 12th (Nelson) Company of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment NZEF - in the field at France.
Private George Gibson played a part in the liberation of the French town of Le Quesnoy, and the nearby village of Beaudignies.
Private George Gibson was killed in action - on 24 October 1918 - during the liberation of the village of Beaudignies, France - just two weeks before the Armistice that would end World War 1.
Private George Gibson is buried at Beaudignies Communal Cemetery, Beaudignies, Nord, France (Grave ref: A.5).
Private George Gibson is also remembered at his hometown in New Zealand - on the Kaikoura District War Memorial (1914-1918) - at Kaikoura, Marlborough Region, New Zealand.
Note: Some years ago the people of the village of Beaudignies, France, had a special medal struck - to present to the descendents of the soldiers who lost their lives liberating their town - in October 1918. Private George Gibson's medal, from the people of Beaudignies, France is now held by the Kaikoura Museum.
Refs: Private George Gibson: Liberation of Le Quesnoy and Beaudignies: Marlborough Express (Marlborough, New Zealand); 24 April 2008 : "ANZAC Stories Safe at Museum".
Photo Credit : Kaikoura War Memorial : Ministry of Culture & Heritage; New Zealand Government.
Jenifer Everett