No.32504, Private, David GIBSON
Aged 24
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David Gibson was born in Eriswell in 1894 (Mildenhall Q1-1894 4A:801) son of Judd Gathercole and Thirza GIBSON (née SHINN).
1901 census...Aged 7, he was at Flempton Green with his father Judd G GIBSON [44] horsekeeper, born Eriswell; his mother Thirza [44] born Lakenheath; sister Atha [16] born Eriswell, and brother Robert [9] born Eriswell. 1911 census...Aged 17, shepherd's page,he was in Flempton with his parents (now father now recorded as Gathercole J GIBSON) and brother Isaac [23] and Robert, both farm labourers, and John GIBSON, recorded as grandson of Gathercole, born in Flempton but no identification as to parentage. Of 8 siblings, 2 had died. His elder brother Robert died in France in 1915. From their Suffolk numbers, they enlisted the same day. see here |
| He enlisted in Culford .
The Somerset Light Infantry were known as the "Light Bobs". The 2nd Battalion was at Quetta in India for the duration of the Great War, staying on for the Afghan War in 1919. Quetta is in what is now Pakistan, near the border with Afghanistan, Peshawar is further north, on the same border. Garrison in India did not qualify for the Victory Medal, so David must have served first in Europe with the Suffolk Regiment before being transferred to the Somerset Light Infantry., which his medal index card shows. |
Peshawar cemetery, photographed by Dr Ali Jan.
Probably not worse that some English graveyards but it is subject to vandalism and CWGC are unable to
maintain the graves, and so all are now commemorated on the Delhi Memorial
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details
