Chailey Parish Magazine notes in 1914 that Richard Gibson is serving his King and Country. In October 1915 it notes, Gibson, Private R,
3rd Royal Sussex
and in January 1916 adds the information that he is in England. The final entry, in December 1918 simply repeats, Gibson,
Private R, 3rd Royal Sussex.
I am assuming that this man is Richard William Gibson who was born at Hailsham, Sussex in 1885 and who would
later lose his life on 6th September 1916 whilst serving with the 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment.
Richard Gibson's number was 8124 which suggests that he enlisted in late 1904 or very early in 1905.
Unless he had extended his service, he would have been a Reservist when war was declared. Nevertheless, his medal index
card at the National Archives tells us that he arrived in France with the 2nd Royal Sussex on 27th August 1914. The fact
that Chailey Parish Magazine states that he was with the 3rd Royal Sussex Regiment (a reserve battalion) and also in England,
suggests to me that he was probably returned to England as a result of wounds or sickness but was fit enough to return to
France at a later stage, rejoin his battalion, and get killed on the Somme in the bitter battles of 1916. He is
commemorated on Pier and Face 7C of the Thiepval Memorial in France.
Soldiers Died in The Great War notes that Richard was born in Hailsham and enlisted at Chichester
(which was the depot for the Royal Sussex Regiment). His rank is noted on SDGW as acting corporal although the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission gives his rank as Corporal.
Strangely, Richard Gibson is neither commemorated on the Chailey Parish War Memorial nor the memorial
at Hailsham.
Sources and Acknowledgements
- Chailey Parish Magazine
- England and Wales, Civil Registration Index: 1837-1983
- The National Archives: Medal Index Card
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Soldiers Died in The Great War
