Name
Henry (Harry) John Gibbs
22 Dec 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/09/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
15134
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 41.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden
Pre War
Harry John was born in Harpenden on 22 Dec 1896 to Walter Gibbs , an agricultural labourer, and Caroline (nee Attwood.) The family were living at Bowling Green, Harpenden. On the 1911 Census the family were living at Heath Road, Harpenden. On the 1911 Census Harry was farm labourer and the family were now living at Heath Field.
Wartime Service
Harry was enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 15134. He went to France to join the2nd Battalion of the Regiment on 1 May 1915. The 2nd Beds were involved in the Battle of Festubert in May 1915 and the Battle of Loos Sep 1915. At Loos the 2nd Beds became involved when a German infiltration of an adjoining battalion’s trenches turned into a bombing fight, hamperd by poor quality British bombs and was only repulsed by repositioning of British machine guns. It was during this action the Harry was killed. His remains have not been recovered and he is remembered on the Loos Memorial to the Missing.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 10s and arrears of £3 5s 10d paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History
Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
