Gibson, George Crosby

No.3423 – Trooper George Crosby Gibson – 10^th Light Horse

George Crosby Gibson had been born in York WA in 1886. As with his brothers, he spent much of his early life in the Fremantle region. After completing his education he worked locally as a labourer and then secured employment with the Fremantle Tramways.

In 1910 he married Mary Jackman in the Plantagenet district of South West WA. They would take up residence in Glyde Street East Fremantle and have three children, Thomas, Eileen and George.

George enlisted in the AIF at the Fremantle Drill Hall four days after his brother Ernie. The medical officer recorded his physical attributes as height of 5 feet 11 & ½ inches; weight of 170lbs; chest measurement of 38-40 inches; dark complexion; blue eyes and brown hair.

George was assigned to the 29^th Reinforcements to the 10^th Light Horse Regiment at Claremont Showgrounds Camp and he and his brother Ernie were given consecutive regimental numbers. On the 30^th June 1917 their reinforcement group left Fremantle Harbour and sailed for the Middle East upon the HMAT Port Lincoln. The journey took more than a month as the ship berthed at Suez on the 6^th August 1917. Upon being disembarked George was sent to an isolation camp and six days later was appointed Acting Corporal. On the 6^th September 1917 George was transferred to the 3^rd Light Horse Training Regiment and reverted to the rank of Trooper.

On the 16^th September 1917 George was detached for duty with a Railway Construction unit, the 115^th Company Royal Engineers at Kantara. He served with this Royal Engineers Company until the 14^th January 1918 when he was evacuated to hospital with bronchitis. George spent the next month in hospitals and rest camps and on the 20^th February he returned to the 3^rd Light Horse Training Regiment. On the 2^nd March 1918 he resumed his detachment to the 115^th Company Royal Engineers. George served with them for the next three months but on the 3^rd June 1918 he was sent to hospital with a PUO.

After a few weeks of rest George was returned to the 3^rd Light Horse Training Regiment on the 30^th June 1918. On the 18^th July 1918 he was taken on strength of the 10^th Light Horse Regiment. He served with them for the next few months including the capture of Damascus, however in early November George again came down ill and he was sent to hospital in Port Said. He spent the next several weeks in hospital and on the 1^st January 1919 he was sent aboard the HT Aeneas and returned to Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 27^th January 1919.

George Gibson was discharged from the AIF on the 18^th March 1919. He resumed work for Fremantle Tramways after his discharge and continued to reside in East Fremantle with his wife and children. George died in his Bicton home on the 2^nd May 1950.

(Two photos below shows George Gibson at the Fremantle Tramways Depot in High Street Fremantle)