Walter Matthews Gibbs

Story:
Walter Matthews Gibbs was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset in 1884 and baptised at St. James' Church on 17th August 1884. He was the son of Edwin George Gibbs and Mary Gibbs (née Matthews).    His siblings. Alwin Thomas Gibbs (b.1888) served in the 16th Lancers, Claude Ivor Bertie Gibbs (b.1897) served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and Lucius George Gibbs (b. 1882) served with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment from the time of being awarded a commission in 1915.  Walter's sister, Ada Prudence Gibbs, served as a nurse with the Red Cross VAD at Tisbury, Wiltshire.  The family home was at Blynfield Farm, Shaftesbury, where Walter's father was the Farmer.   Walter had enlisted  with the Dorsetshire Yeomanry (Reserve Militia) on 7th February 1902 and attended annual training regularly, achieving the rank of Sergeant (Service No. 691).  He was eventually embodied on 5th August 1914, joining the 1st Battalion (Service No. 231) and serving at Gallipoli and in Egypt from 7th April 1915 until 29th April 1916.   It was announced in the London Gazette on 3rd June 1916 that he had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) after he had already been discharged, having completed his term of service, on 8th May 1916.  At a very later date a certificate was issued on 7th May 1921 to the effect that he had also been Mentioned in Despatches.   He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/1915 Star.  He married Mildred Mary Dare at Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset, on 18th November 1919.  They went on to have three children. The 1921 Census shows he was living at Swainscombe Farm, East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Farmer.  Walter regrettably died at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, Somerset, on 30 May 1931 aged only 46 years.