Gibson, Edward James

No.128 – Sergeant Edward James Gibson – 44^th Battalion AIF

Edward James Gibson was born in East Fremantle WA in 1894, one of six children born to Thomas and Margaret Gibson. His father died in the years after his birth and his mother remarried a Claude Rooke and a further son, Theodore was born in 1898. Edward grew up in the farming district of Tenterden in the Plantagenet district of Western Australia. He was educated at the local Tenterden School and after leaving took up a blacksmith apprenticeship with his step-father Claude. Edward spent his time between Tenterden and his mother’s home in Cantonment Street Fremantle. Edward had also served in the 86A Citizen Military Forces cadets based in Fremantle.

On the 12^th January 1916 aged 21, Edward enlisted into the AIF at the Perth Drill Hall. He was found to be 5 feet 5 & ¾ inches tall; weight of 125 lbs; chest measurement of 34-37 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. On the 1^st February 1916 Edward was assigned to “A” Company of the 44^th Battalion with the regimental no.128.

His step brother Theo Rooke was also in the 44^th and both trained at Claremont Camp for the next few months prior to their departure. On the 6^th June 1916 the 44^th Battalion left Fremantle Harbour aboard the H.M.A.T. “Suevic”. After the long sea voyage they arrived in Plymouth England on the 21^st July 1916.

The 44^th Battalion would spend the next few months training in England on the legendary Salisbury Plains. It wasn’t all work however as the men were also given leave to see the sights of England. Edward Gibson (right in photo) got in trouble in November 1916 as he went absent without leave for five days. After reporting back on the 20^th November 1916 he was paraded before the CO and given as a punishment 5 days of Field Punishment No.2 and also had to forfeit 11 days pay.

On the 25^th November 1916 the 44^th Battalion arrived at Southampton for their departure for France. The 3^rd Division were given their first taste of the Western Front at Armentieres and after arriving the 44^th Battalion had their first taste of warfare in December 1916. They were to spend the next few months in this region. In March 1917 the 44^th Battalion conducted a trench raid against the Germans which was not that successful and during the operation Edward’s step-brother Theo Rooke (left in photo) was killed.

The 44^th Battalion soon moved to Belgium where they took up positions in the Ploegsteert sector. They served in the Battle of Messines in June 1917, and successfully took their objectives. Edward survived this campaign, and the 44^th held the line in the newly capture territory over the next few months. In September 1917 they moved to Ypres where they would take part in the huge battle going on there. The Australian infantry had been taking part since September 20^th though the 44^th’s first taste of the Third Battle of Ypres was at Broodseinde Ridge on October 4^th. Three days after this attack Edward was promoted to Lance Corporal and served at this rank on the October 12^th push towards Passchendaele. That attack was unsuccessful though the 44^th continued to hold the line in this area over the next few months. On the 27^th October he was promoted to Temp/Corporal and was made full Corporal on the 4^th January 1918.

On the 23^rd January 1918 Edward sent to hospital ill and he was diagnosed as suffering from venereal disease. Sent to the 39^th General Hospital at Le Havre, he underwent treatment for several weeks before returning to his unit on the 17^th March 1918. A few days after his return would came through that the Germans had broken through the Third & Fifth British Armies, and as a result the 3^rd & 4^th Australian Divisions, with the other three Divisions to follow, were sent south to the Somme to combat the breakthrough. On the 28^th March the 44^th Battalion came into contact with the Germans near Sailly-le-Sec and stopped their advance. On the 1^st April 1918 Edward was promoted to Temp/Sergeant to replace Sergeant Davis who had gone missing. Edwards’s rank of Sergeant was eventually confirmed on the 1^st July 1918.

From April to June the 44^th Battalion were located in various positions along the line from Sailly-le-Sec to Villers-Bretonneux, helping to stop the German advance and also making their own gains through small attacks and raids. The 44^th Battalion’s next main assault was on the 4^th July 1918 when they took part in the assault on Hamel. The attack was very successful and Hamel was captured in short time, however during the assault Edward was badly wounded in the thigh. He was evacuated back to the 4^th Field Ambulance and then to the 47^th Casualty Clearing Station. By the 5^th July Edward was admitted to the 10^th General Hospital at Rouen where his wound was assessed as serious enough for evacuation to England.

Edward was admitted to the Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Taplow Buckinghamshire. He remained here until the 21^st September 1918 when he was transferred to the 1^st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. Edward remained here until the 7^th November 1918 when he was sent to No.2 Command Depot at Weymouth Camp. He had been marked for return to Australia due to his wounds, though he remained in England for another two months. Edward eventually boarded a hospital ship on the 4^th January 1919 and took the long journey back to Western Australia.

On arrival back in Fremantle Edward was admitted to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace and unfortunately his condition continued to deteriorate due the severity of the wound and he died on the 15^th May 1919. He was given a full military funeral and was buried in Fremantle Cemetery Plot No. CEAA1646.