We will remember them: John Giblin

Over the course of the war, 5.7 million men from the British Isles served in the forces and 705,000 died. Of these 71 are recorded on the Alderley Edge War Memorial, along with one member of the British Red Cross and a further 6 are remembered in the annual Remembrance Day service.

Every month Michael Scaife will produce articles for the St Philip and St James Church news sheet, with some notes about the war, the War Memorial and to remember those who died in that month 100 years ago.

Below is the first of Michael's articles.

John Giblin, known as Jack Gibbon or Gibbons, was the first man from Alderley Edge to die in the Great War. Little is known about his background.

He does not appear in Alderley Edge in the 1911 census, but a report in the "Advertiser" says he was employed as a chauffeur. The report tells that the news was received in a letter to the Union Club from a 'chum' in the Hussars, a Private Martin.

Martin wrote to the Union Club because he had no address to write to but had heard Jack talking about his mates in the Union Club. He ends the letter, "You can let all who knew know that he died a hero's death".

It seems that Jack Gibbons was a reservist who was called up as soon as war broke out. The 20th Hussars crossed to France on 17th August and took part in the battles of the Marne, the Aisne and First Ypres. At the time of L/Cpl Gibbons' death, the regiment was part of the 2nd Cavalry Division which was stationed on the trench line to the south of Ypres.

A despatch from Sir John French, reported in the Manchester Guardian of February 23, 1915, reports an attack on the German trenches near Givenchy, which is where the 2nd Cavalry Division was stationed, and it may be that this is the engagement in which L/Cpl gibbons died. The fact that his name appears on the Menin Gate indicates that he has no known grave.

Guest post by Michael Scaife.

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First World War, Michael Scaife