James Garfield Gibb

   Cause of his death was Killed in Action WW1.

  General Notes:

James enlisted in the A.I.F. at Keswick, South Australia on the 5th May 1915 and was assigned to the 2nd Reinforcements, 27th Battallion. He was just 18 1/2 years old, a Farm Labourer and Single. He listed his father, Robert Gibb of Johnburg, South Australia, as his Next of Kin. James was assigned to E Company Base Infantry, his Number was 1706.

When he enlisted James was 5' 9" tall and weighed 156 lbs. His complexion was dark, eyes Grey and hair dark. His religion was recorded as Methodist.

The 27th Battalion was raised in South Australia in March 1915, from recruits previously earmarked for the 24th Battalion, a large number of whom hailed from the suburbs of Adelaide. The battalion left Australia in June, and, after two months spent training in Egypt, landed at Gallipoli on 12 September.

At Gallipoli, the 7th Brigade, which included the 27th Battalion, reinforced the weary New Zealand and Australian Division. The 27th had a relatively quiet time at Gallipoli and the battalion departed the peninsula in December, having suffered only light casualties.

After another stint in Egypt, the 7th Brigade proceeded to France as part of the 2nd Australian Division. The 27th Battalion entered the front-line trenches for the first time on 7 April 1916 and took part in its first major battle at Pozières between 28 July and 5 August. Source: Australian War memorial Website http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11214.asp

In October of 1915 James was in Gallipoli. He suffered a bout of Influenza and Bronchitis which required hospitalisation at the end of October but survived Gallipoli, heading to France via Egypt in March of 1916. On the 5th August 1916 James was wounded in action in Pozieres, suffering a Gunshot Wound to his left thigh. After initially receiving treatment in France he was transferred to the North Evington Military Hospital in Leicester, England on the 16th August. He was subesequently moved to the Australian Auxiliary Hospital No. 1 at Harefield, and on the 18th Septmember he was sufficiently recovered to report for duty at Perham Downs Depot in England.

He was granted furlough from 29th December 1916, returning to Perham Downs on the 15th January 1917. On the 7th February he left England again for France on board the Invicta and on the 17th February he rejoined his Battallion.

On the 11th May, 1917 James was Killed in Action in France. I have not yet determined where but in early 1917 his Battallion was involved in fighting the German army as they retreated to the Hindenburg Line. James is buried at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial in the Somme, France.

His personal effects were returned to his father on the 20th February 1918 and comprised two packages received separately. One contained a notebook and on the other a Bible.

James was the recipient of the 1914/15 Star, No. 22629, the British War medal, No. 15111, and the Victory medal, No. 15051. His father received a Memorial Scroll, No. 323639 in 1921 and a Memorial Plaque No. 323639 in 1923.