John Auchenlosh Gibson
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John was born in in 1882 in Newark and was the son of Robert a travelling draper and Mary Gibson, (née Blundy) of 2, Magnus St., Newark. M.A., B.Sc. (London). His father Robert was born in 1823 in Scotland and when he was 49 years of age he was married in Newark in 1872 to Mary Blundy born 1852 in Newark who was only 20 years of age. They had 6 children , Ann b1873, Jessie b1875, Margaret b1880, John A b1882 and Rachel born 1886 all the children were born in Newark. . Robert died in September 1894 aged 71 years, Mary died in 1917 aged 66 years. In the 1891 census , the family are living at 2 Magnus Street, Newark, Robert is a travelling draper, he is living at the address with his wife Mary and their children , Ann, Jessie, Margaret, John and Rachel,also in the house are 2 servants. By the 1901 census Robert has died and Mary is still living at 2 Magnus Street, Newark , she is shown as head of the family 49 years a draper working from home, with her is her children, Jessie now 26 years and a school governess, Margaret Jane 21 years, John A 19 years a student and Rachel 16 years a student. In September 1910 he married his wife Catherine Jones , this was registered in the Bala registration district, Merionethshire. In the 1911 census we find John living at 33 King Edward Grove, Teddington, Middlesex, he is 29 years of age and assistant master in a secondary school, he is living with his wife Catherine 28 years born Llanuwchlyn, Merionethshire and a servant, Ethel Kate Campbell 14 years a general domestic servant. By 1917 his wife Catherine had died following a short illness. His probate was proven on 11th Septemebr 1919 in London , he was shown as John Auchenlosh Gibson of 33 King Edward's Grove, Teddington, Second Lieutenant R.G.A. died on or about 27th May 1918 in France, his effects of £2059 10 shillings and 11 pence were left to Annie Emily Wismore Gibson, a spinster.
He attested under the Lord Derby scheme in 1915, but was not called-up until Easter 1917 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery, he was gazetted Second Lieutenant at Christmas and went to France in February 1918, attached to the 116th Siege Battery. He went missing in action on 27th May 1918 and he was later confirmed dying on that date. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial beside the River Aisne.
The following is an extract from the Magnus School, Newark, diary of the 'Great War' Monday 10 June 1918: A late night telegram from the War Office informed widow Mary Gibson in Magnus Street that her extremely intelligent son John Auchenlosh, 36, was missing. The Old Magnusian had enjoyed a distinguished scholastic career, earning a Master of Arts (London) and B.Sc. He joined Tiffins Secondary School for Boys, Kingston-on-Thames as mathematics and science master in 1907; was married in 1910, but lost his wife Catherine after a short illness in early 1917. He had been prepared to enlist in 1915 but was not called-up until Easter 1917, when he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was gazetted Second Lieutenant at Christmas and went to France in February 1918, attached to the 116th Siege Battery. In his last letter home, dated 21 May, he wrote of much fighting and very little sleep. Now the telegram revealed he had been missing since 27 May. A letter from his Captain swiftly followed, explaining: ‘He was last seen at the forward section of the Battery with about 60 men, the Major and two other officers, holding the Battery position with rifles against the Germans after the guns were blown-up. This happened about 8am on the 27th and since then we have heard no news of him or the people who were with him. We have made every effort to find out where he and the others are, but have had no news and so have had to conclude that they were all captured…’ It was Friday 6 December before Mrs Gibson was informed ‘from verbal recollections collated by the Red Cross’ that John had been killed on 27 May, the day on which he was posted missing. The report was originated by a returned prisoner of war, who stated that he was told by Bombardier Brailsford that Lieutenant Gibson had been killed. He explained: ‘I saw Brailsford in hospital behind the German lines in June. He said that after he was taken prisoner at Craonne Wood between Reims and Soissons on 27 May he was being taken back by a ‘Jerry’ when he passed Lieutenant Gibson lying dead. He had been severely wounded in the shoulder.’ Second Lieutenant Gibson is remembered on the Soissons Memorial beside the River Aisne.
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