9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
27/06/1894
Died:
16/08/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age:
23
Summary
Thomas John Gibson was the son of Wilson and Sarah Gibson. Thomas was born about 1894 in Coagh. By 1911, his mother had died and the family had moved to Derry, between Newmills and Coalisland. Thomas Gibson went to Finner Camp to enlist in the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. His father had died by August 1916 when Private Thomas Gibson was reported as seeing three Germans working a machine-gun. He attacked them single-handed and killed them all with his clubbed rifle, thereby saving many lives. Private Thomas John Gibson was lost during the Battle of Langemarck 16th August 1917, and has no known grave. He was 23 years old. Private Gibson is also commemorated on Coagh War Memorial, Newmills War Memorial and Dungannon War Memorial (as TG Gibson).
Further Information
Thomas John Gibson was the eldest son of Wilson and Sarah Gibson. Wilson Gibson married Sarah Graham on 20th June 1893 in the district of Cookstown.
Thomas was born on 27th June 1893 in Coagh. He was the eldest of six children.
The 1901 census Lists Thomas John as age 7, living with the family at house 41 in Drummullan, Springhill, County Londonderry. Thomas was at school. His father was a carpenter.
Family: Wilson Gibson, Sarah Gibson, Thomas John Gibson (born 27th June 1893), William Alexander Gibson (born 12th January 1895), James Graham Gibson (born 11th May 1897), Margaret Gibson (born 2nd June 1899), Mary Gibson (born 17th October 1900), Henry A Gibson (born 20th March 1903).
Sarah Gibson, Thomas’s mother, died on 10th November 1904 in the Moneymore area, aged 34. She left behind six young children, the eldest being Thomas, aged 11.
The 1911 census lists Thomas John as age 18, living with the family at house 32 in Derry, Tullyniskane, County Tyrone. Derry lies between Newmills and Coalisland. Thomas worked as a Sawyers Assistant. His father was a widower.
Thomas Gibson went to Finner Camp to enlist in the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Writing of Tyrone’s Part in the Advance on 1st July 1916, Colonel Ricardo states that Private Thomas Gibson, of Coalisland, saw three Germans working a machine-gun. He attacked them single-handed and killed them all with his clubbed rifle, thereby saving many lives.
The local newspaper states in August 1916 that Private Thomas Gibson, who single-handed killed three Germans who were working a machine gun, was the son of the late Wilson Gibson, Derry, Coalisland, and was employed as a labourer. His relatives had by that time had moved and now resided in Scotland.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 24 August 1916: Tyrone’s Part in the Advance by Colonel Ricardo:
Private Thomas Gibson, of Coalisland, saw three Germans working a machine-gun. He attacked them single-handed and killed them all with his clubbed rifle, thereby saving many lives.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 24 August 1916:
Private Thomas Gibson, who single-handed killed three Germans who were working a machine gun, is a son of the late Wilson Gibson, Derry, Coalisland, and was employed as a labourer. His relatives now reside in Scotland.
By mid-August 1917 the 9th Inniskillings had been resting for a few days on the wet ground at Vlamertinghe, before moving up to Capricorn Trench in support of 11th Inniskillings and 14th Royal Irish Rifles on the evening of August 15th . At 4.45pm on the afternoon of August 16th the first company moved out of Capricorn trench to support the 11th Inniskillings, during the Battle of Langemarck. A heavy barrage of enemy artillery came down, but there were no immediate casualties. They advanced in line over ground already pitted with shell holes, enemy machine gun fire stopped them in their tracks and they were forced to dig in. Although the planning for the advance was well arranged, the deep mud hampered the effort. Men sank in the mud as they struggled to aid their wounded comrades. The valley of Steenbeck was shelled intensely during the next day and night and many wounded men were forced to lay in No Man’s Land.
Private Thomas John Gibson was lost during the Battle of Langemarck, and has no known grave. He was 23 years old.
Private Thomas John Gibson is commemorated on panel 70-72 at Tyne Cot Cemetery Memorial, Belgium.
Private Gibson is also commemorated on Coagh War Memorial, Newmills War Memorial and Dungannon War Memorial (as TG Gibson).
