GIBBS, Sydney Edward


No.3/8838, Private, Sydney GIBBS
Aged 19


1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on or since Saturday, 8th May 1915

An Old Contemptible


Sydney Edward Gibbs was born in 1895 in Thetford (Thetford Q3-1895 4B:390), son of Frederick and Harriet GIBBS (née SAYER).

1901 census...Aged 5, he was at Nether Lane, Fornham St Martin with his father Frederick GIBBS [31] domestic groom/gardener born Euston; his mother Harriet [28] born East Harling; sisters Benieh Sophia [7] born Bridgham, Eliza [3], Winifred [1] and Florence [10 months], the three born in Fornham St Martin; brother William [4] born in Thetford

1911 census...Aged 15, farm labourer, he was in Fornham St Martin with his parents; brothers William (farm labourer), Charlie [5] and Arthur [2]; sisters Eliza, Winifred, Florence, Violet [7] and Dorothy [1]. All the new siblings were born in Fornham St Martin.

His younger brother William died in Belgium in 3 days earlier see here





He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds, initially in 2nd Battalion.
The 8th May 1915 was as a new dawn for the 1st Suffolks. At 10 am the storm broke and a determined attack began against the point of the Ypres Salient. The battle for Frenzenberg Ridge had begun. Shells, machine gun fire, mortars, gas shells, the entire inventory of destructive power available to the Germans was let loose. All communication lines were cut, roads became impassable. The enemy made a breach in the right flank and before noon the Battalion had been overwhelmed. Casualties amounted to over 400. Some time later when a draft of new men arrived from Felixstowe they were met by 2 officers and 27 men, survivors from the trenches that day, later added to by a few stragglers.
CWGC show 94 killed and not one has an identified grave, all are named on the Menin Gate in Ypres.



photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Sydney Gibbs is commemorated on the Menin Gate, panel 21

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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