Joseph Gibson

JOSEPH GIBSON

Private 37235, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own)

Died 20th February 1917 aged 28

Buried Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), Belgium

Son of John and Ada Gibson

Lived 44, Chapel Lane, Heckmondwike

Joseph, also known as Joe, was born during April, May or June 1888. He was the second son of John Gibson of Heckmondwike and Ada nee Spivey also of Heckmondwike.

When Joe was born, the family were living in Oxford Street off Cemetery Road, Heckmondwike having recently moved from Gomersal where their eldest son Arthur was born. His father John was Carpet Weaver.

Joe’s mother Ada had previously been married to David Hall and had two daughters who were living with the family in 1891. After David Hall died, Ada married John Gibson at the end of 1884. Their eldest son Arthur was born in 1886 and a younger sister Clara was born in 1890. By 1901 the family had moved a short distance to Park Street still off Cemetery Road and two more sons had been born, Albert in 1892 and Willie in 1900. By this time John was working as a Lamplighter. Ada’s two daughters by her first marriage were also working as Chenille Weavers and Arthur their eldest son was working as a Boot Operative.

By 1911, the family had moved to 44, Chapel Lane and John was still a Lamplighter. All the children of John and Ada were working except Willie who was at school.

Joe was working as a Rough Cutter at CWS Bootworks, from where he enlisted into the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own). He was home on leave at Christmas 1916 and returned to the front shortly after.

His parents had not received any news of him after his leave until Mr. F. H. Stead had a letter from his son who was also serving in France, intimating that Joe had been killed. This sad news was confirmed shortly afterwards. Joe was buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm ) grave reference VII H 8.

His brothers Arthur (b1886) served in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and Albert (b1892) served in the Royal Engineers in The Great War.

Joe is named on the Heckmondwike Grammar School War Memorial as well as George Street Congregational Chapel War Memorial, St. James’s and St. Saviour’s War Memorials.

He received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.{MA-055}

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