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Corporal John Gibson

 

The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present. The War Office Daily Casualty List records his name as 'C.J. Gibson' and his place of residence as Ballymena.

Gibson probably enlisted in the North Irish Horse at some point following the declaration of war in August 1914 (regimental number unknown). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp until November 1916, when he and around 100 other North Irish Horsemen volunteered to transfer to the Royal Irish Rifles. The formal transfer took place on 7 December (Gibson was issued regimental number 40835), and on that day the men embarked for France. There they were posted to the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, joining it on the Somme front on 12 December.

Gibson was wounded in the early months of 1918, probably on the retreat from St Quentin from 21-28 March during the German spring offensive.