We will remember them…
John Giblin, known as Jack Gibbon or Gibbons, was the first man from Alderley Edge to die in the Great War.
Little is known about his background. He does not appear in Alderley Edge in the 1911 census, but a report in the “Advertiser” says he was employed as a chauffeur.
The report tells that the news was received in a letter to the Union Club from a ‘chum’ in the Hussars, a Private Martin. Martin wrote to the Union club because he had no address to write to but had heard Jack talking about his mates in the Union Club.
He ends the letter, “You can let all who knew know that he died a hero’s death”.
It seems that Jack Gibbons was a reservist who was called up as soon as war broke out. The 20th Hussars crossed to France on 17th August and took part in the battles of the Marne, the Aisne and First Ypres.
At the time of L/Cpl Gibbons’ death, the regiment was part of the 2nd Cavalry Division which was stationed on the trench line to the south of Ypres.
A despatch from Sir John French, reported in the Manchester Guardian of February 23, 1915, reports an attack on the German trenches near Givenchy, which is where the 2nd Cavalry Division was stationed, and it may be that this is the engagement in which L/Cpl Gibbons died.
The fact that his name appears on the Menin Gate indicates that he has no known grave.
If you know of Alderley Edge men who served in the war and returned home afterwards, we should be glad to hear of them.