Walter Frederick Gibbons
Surname: Gibbons
Other names: Walter Frederick
Locations in this story: Acton, MiddlesexFrance & FlandersPloegsteert Wood Military Cemetery,Hainaut, BelgiumChurch Road, Acton, MiddlesexMotcombe, DorsetTaunton, SomersetSunningdale Park, Windsor, BerkshireChiswick, MiddlesexHeston, MiddlesexTooting Graveney, WandsworthWest Ealing, Middlesex
Story: Walter Frederick Gibbons was born in 1880 in Acton, Middlesex. He was the son of Arthur Gibbons, a house decorator, and Mary Ann Gibbons ( née Powley). By 1901 Walter's mother was living with her father in Chiswick whilst his father, Arthur, had been placed in the Heston, Middlesex, workhouse and was described as an 'imbecile'. He later died in 1906. Walter had by then found work as a Domestic Stable Helper at Sunningdale Park, Windsor, Berkshire. On the 23rd December, 1908, he married Sarah Ellen (known as Nellie) Arnold at Tooting Graveney, Wandsworth, London.
At the time of the 1911 Census, Walter was a Regular Soldier in the Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 5371) based at The Barracks, The Depot, 13th Prince Albert's Light Infantry & Military Hospital, Mount Street, Taunton, Somerset, at which time he held the rank of Sergeant. His wife was living in married quarters also in Taunton. Walter's mother was then living in West Ealing, Middlesex. In the First World War Walter served in France & Flanders from 21 Aug 1914 and at the time of his death he was with the 1st Battalion of the Regiment. He was killed in action on 1st March 1915 and buried at Ploegsteert Wood Military Cemetery, Hainaut, Belgium, in Flanders (grave id. I C 2). He was awarded the Victory, British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star and was posthumously Mentioned in Dispatches on 22nd June 1915. He is remembered on the Motcombe War Memorial, Dorset. His wife is recorded in the 1939 Register as living at 'Clovelly' in Motcombe, (near the village shop.) where she was awarded a widow's pension of £1.4s.0d. (£1.20) per week for herself and three children.
At the time of the 1911 Census, Walter was a Regular Soldier in the Somerset Light Infantry (Service No. 5371) based at The Barracks, The Depot, 13th Prince Albert's Light Infantry & Military Hospital, Mount Street, Taunton, Somerset, at which time he held the rank of Sergeant. His wife was living in married quarters also in Taunton. Walter's mother was then living in West Ealing, Middlesex. In the First World War Walter served in France & Flanders from 21 Aug 1914 and at the time of his death he was with the 1st Battalion of the Regiment. He was killed in action on 1st March 1915 and buried at Ploegsteert Wood Military Cemetery, Hainaut, Belgium, in Flanders (grave id. I C 2). He was awarded the Victory, British War Medals as well as the 1914/15 Star and was posthumously Mentioned in Dispatches on 22nd June 1915. He is remembered on the Motcombe War Memorial, Dorset. His wife is recorded in the 1939 Register as living at 'Clovelly' in Motcombe, (near the village shop.) where she was awarded a widow's pension of £1.4s.0d. (£1.20) per week for herself and three children.
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