Claude Ivor Bertie Gibbs

Story:
Claude Ivor Bertie Gibbs was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 28th Jun 1897 and baptised on 22nd August 1897. He was the son of Edwin George Gibbs and Mary Gibbs (née Matthews), who lived at Blynfield Farm near Shaftesbury. He enlisted on 29th February 1916 but was not mobilized until 10th January 1917 when he joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers as a Private (Service No. 41862). He served with both the 2nd and 8th Battalions in France and Flanders where he received a gunshot wound to the left thigh on 16th August 1917 and at the same time was taken prisoner.  He spent time in a POW Camp in Germany where his wounds were treated.  He was released from captivity on 2nd December 1918 and was discharged on 15th October 1919.   He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as a small limited period pension which ended on 20 Apr 1920. The 1921 Census shows that he had returned to Blynfield Farm and was working for his father. He married Ella Blanche Pickford at Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1st October 1929 and they went on to have one daughter.  By the time of the 1939 Register, Claude was living at Culverhouse Farm, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was described as a Dairy Farmer.  His death is recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry on 3 Aug 1972. His brothers, Alwin Thomas Gibbs, Walter Thomas Gibbs, DCM, Stanley William Gibbs and Lucius George Gibbs, also served in the conflict whilst his sister, Ada Prudence Gibbs, served with the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps in France.