Lieut.-Colonel William Beresford GIBBS
Commanded the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment from July 1916 to Sepember 1916.
William Beresford Gibbs was born at Abingdon, Berkshire in 1881 the son of the Reverend William Cobham Gibbs (Rector at St John's at Hagley, Worcestershire) and Mrs. Annie Katharina Gibbs (nee Downall). His materal grandfather was The Venerable John Downall held the office of Archdeacon. Educated at the Royal Military College and commissioned in to the Worcestershire Regiment as Second Lieutenant on the 21st February 1900 and joined the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. He was promoted to rank of Lieutenant by augmentation on the 11th July 1900. Served with the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment during the South African War in 1900 and took part in the operations around Senekal including the engagement at Riet Spruit on the 23rd June 1900. Took part in the engagements around Lindley, Orange River Colony and the action at Bethlehem on the 5th and 7th July 1900, which culminated in the surrender of General Prinsloo's force in the Brandwater Basin on the 30th July 1900; also operations under Major General Clements in the Mahaliesberg mountains, Western Transvaal, during September and October 1900, including the action at Boschfontein on the 10th September 1900, and the futher operations under Brigadier General Cunningham, including the action at Middlefontein on the 23rd, 24th and 25th January 1901, and subsequent operations in the Gatsrand. After the South Africa war he continued to serve with the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and on the 14th April 1904 was promoted to rank of Captain. He was later posted to the Egypian Army and was serving in Egypt at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. He was promoted to rank of Major and commanded the 15th Sudanese, Egyptian Army. For his service in Egypt he was awarded the of the Order of the Nile (Fourth Class) by His Highness the Sultan of Eqypt (London Gazettet date 22nd July 1916). |
Lieut.-Col. W. B. Gibbs |
He returned to Europe and landed in France on the 9th May 1916 and joined the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment as 2nd-in-Command.
On the 13th July 1916 Colonel Davidge who was commanding the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment was hit and badly wounded near Pozieres, East of Ovillers, and had to be evacuated. The then Major William Beresford Gibbs took command of the Battalion the following day (14th july 1916) as Temporary Lieut.-Colonel.
During the night of the 2nd/3rd September 1916 the 3rd Battalion were advancing in the front line at Thiepval Ridge. The light was slowly spreading when, at 5.10 a.m. the British guns broke out into fire, shells rained down on the Thiepval Ridge and the British battalions advanced to the attack. The two leading companies ('A' and 'B') cf the Battalion advanced across "No Man's Land" behind the barrage, plunged into the German trenches and overwhelmed the crouching defenders. Then they attempted to entrench the ground gained; but the trenches had been practically demolished. The enemy, realising the situation, opened an intense bombardment against their lost front line. Officers and men went down fast. Both the Company Commanders were killed, then the Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Colonel William Beresford Gibbs was also killed (age 35) by the heavy shelling. He was later mentioned in despatches for his actions (London Gazette date 4th January 1917).
Lieut.-Colonel William Beresford Gibbs is burried at Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authuille Wood, Somme, France CLICK HERE FOR A PHOTO OF HIS GRAVE.