Gibson, Arthur Horace

Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Horace Gibson - Australian Army Medical Corps

Arthur Horace Gibson was born in Ballarat Victoria on the 21st October 1880

He graduated at the Melbourne University in 1908. After devoting three years to the study of tropical diseases in the Pacific he came to Fremantle in 1911 and was for two years the chief resident medical officer at the Fremantle Hospital. He then commenced private practice in Fremantle and lived in Pier Street East Fremantle.

He enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 6th May 1915 and was appointed a Captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps. On the 24th May 1915 Arthur boarded the RMS Mooltan in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for Egypt.

Captain Gibson initially served at the No.3 Australian General Hospital and in early 1916 was promoted to Major and sent to the 5th Field Ambulance. He served in France with the 5th Field Ambulance until July 1917 when he was transferred to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station.

On the 26th November 1917 he was transferred o the 15th Field Ambulance and spent a few months with them before going to the 12th Field Ambulance in February 1918. It was at this time that Arthur was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He commanded the 12th Field Ambulance until the 20th September 1918 when he was transferred to command the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station and he saw out the war with this unit.

Arthur was Mentioned in Despatches for his work as a Medical Officer during the war.

Arthur returned to Fremantle on the 6th January 1920.

After the war he took the degree of FRCS at Edinburgh and then returned to Fremantle to run his medial practice. In the 1930's he went to England and Europe for 15 months and took the degree of DMRE (Radiology), after which he returned to WA and commenced practice as a radiologist, working at the Perth and Fremantle Hospitals.

At this stage Arthur was living at Canning Road East Fremantle. When World War Two was declared, and despite being in his sixties, Arthur again offered his services and was utilised as a Medical Officer in the Australian Army. He served in WA and was responsible for x-raying all the Australian troops departing from Fremantle.

It appears he was able to retain his rank of Lieutenant Colonel and he had the service number W56909. 

Unfortunately Arthur died of a heart attack in 1944 aged 64. He was survived by his wife and three children.

Arthur Gibson was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery in plot Anglican ZB 0029.