Search on for family of GC hero

Kyt · Sep 14, 2008

Search on for family of WW II bomb hero - ChronicleLive

BOMB disposal expert Michael Gibson was already recognised as a hero before he died during the Second World War.

He earned himself a George Cross for his bravery for pushing his own safety aside to single-handedly defuse an unexploded German bomb to save others.

He was in charge of the operation to dig out and defuse the device when another bomb exploded nearby. The bomb he was working on then began hissing and seemed likely to explode, so he sent the rest of his team to shelter and continued to work on the device alone.

But Sgt Gibson never got the chance to pick up his prestigious award because he was tragically killed on October 18, 1940 at the age of 34 while working with his colleagues with the 9th Bomb Disposal Company Royal Engineers.

Sgt Gibson lost his life along with the six pals he relied on when a 560lb bomb exploded at Whitley Common, Coventry, after it had been removed by truck from the housing estate in which it had fallen.

That act of bravery has never been forgotten by war veterans and now Sgt Gibson, who was from Chopwell, near Gateshead, and his fellow soldiers will be honoured with a memorial.

And organisers of the memorial are wanting to trace the hero’s family before it is erected in Coventry on October 18.

They have enrolled war memorial enthusiast Michael Hardy, from Crawcrook, near Gateshead, to help in the search. And he is asking Chronicle readers to assist in his quest.

Mr Hardy, who is a member of the Ryton and District War Memorials Project, said: “We are desperately trying to find Sgt Gibson’s family so we can tell them all about the memorial. We would also like to obtain a good photo of him.

“If we can find any members of his family they would be invited to the laying of the memorial stone and plaque near the spot where he was killed.

“Sgt Gibson was killed along with other members of his squad on October 18, 1940 while removing an unexploded German bomb from a lorry at Whitley Common in Coventry.

“He had previously been awarded the George Cross for his actions in working alone and successfully defusing another unexploded German bomb. His widow received the George Cross posthumously.”

Mr Hardy, 57, added: “Michael Gibson was a native of Chopwell born in 1906. He came from a large mining family and worked at Chopwell Colliery.

“Previously to joining the Royal Engineers he had served 14 years with the Durham Light Infantry (Territorials). He married Elizabeth Hardy and they had two sons, Derek and John. Their home address was given as School Houses, Landsale, Greenside, County Durham.

“I am in contact with the Whitley Local History Group in Coventry, which has recently acquired some funding to erect a permanent memorial to honour Sgt Michael Gibson and those of his colleagues who were killed on that day at Whitley Common. A formal laying of the memorial stone and plaque is to be carried out on Saturday, October 18, at a spot near to where Sgt Gibson and his squad lost their lives.”

Also killed in the blast were Second Lieutenant Alexander Fraser Campbell and Sappers William Gibson, Richard Gilchrest, Jack Plumb, Ronald William Skelton and Ernest Arthur Stote.

Anyone with information can contact Lisa Hutchinson on (0191) 201 6493.
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No. & Rank at the Time of Action: 4445289, Sergeant
Unit/Occupation: 9 Bomb Disposal Company, Royal Corps of Engineers
Date and Place of Birth: 1906
Family:
Early Life: Michael Gibson enlisted into and formerly served with the Durham Light Infantry.
Date and Place of GC Action: 18th October 1940, Coventry, Warwickshire
The London Gazette: 22nd January 1941

Michael Gibson (GC - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

liverpool annie · Sep 14, 2008

Kyt said: ↑

Search on for family of WW II bomb hero - ChronicleLive

No. & Rank at the Time of Action: 4445289, Sergeant
Unit/Occupation: 9 Bomb Disposal Company, Royal Corps of Engineers
Date and Place of Birth: 1906
Family:
Early Life: Michael Gibson enlisted into and formerly served with the Durham Light Infantry.
Date and Place of GC Action: 18th October 1940, Coventry, Warwickshire
The London Gazette: 22nd January 1941

Michael Gibson (GC - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
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Wonder if they found the family yet ? ... looks like one of his daughters died this year ...... wonder if she was buried with her Dad .... maybe they should get in touch with the cemetery .... or even just check obituaries for April !

Coventry (London Road) Cemetery contains 123 Second World War burials, 21 of them forming a small group in Square 348, the rest scattered. 1 of these burials is an unidentified British soldier. In the war graves group are buried an officer and six men of the Royal Engineers who were killed by a bomb which exploded after they had spent two days removing it from a situation in which it endangered the public. The cemetery also contains 94 scattered burials of the First World War and one Belgian war grave.

Kyt · Sep 17, 2008

Relatives to see Chopwell war hero honoured - ChronicleLive

HIS final honour was in danger of passing without his loving family playing their part.

It was a race against time, but now fallen Tyneside war hero Michael Gibson will be celebrated with his own award.

After a long search for the soldier’s relatives, a Chronicle story has brought forward his son, grandson and great-grandson.

The breakthrough comes just in time for them to be guests of honour at the unveiling of a memorial in Coventry next month, close to where Sgt Gibson lost his life.

The bomb disposal expert was already recognised as a hero before he died during the Second World War.

On Saturday, we told how Sgt Gibson fell along with six comrades when a 560lb bomb exploded at Whitley Common, Coventry, after it had been removed by truck from the housing estate.

He earned himself a George Cross for his bravery in single-handedly defusing another explosive nearby.

But Sgt Gibson, from Chopwell, near Gateshead, never picked up his prestigious award because he was tragically killed on October 18, 1940, at the age of 34, while working with the 9th Bomb Disposal Company Royal Engineers.

Now his son Derek, 76, of Winlaton, Gateshead, just eight when his father died, grandson Michael, 53, of Blaydon, and great-grandson Michael, nine, are preparing for an emotional journey to the Midlands as the country finally honours one of its true heroes.

Grandson Michael said: “I don’t know a great deal about my grandad but the family knows about his heroic story.

“We’re all proud to have such a man in the family. I’m proud to have his name and I was proud to give it to my son. It’s wonderful that he’s finally being honoured. He lost his own life in trying to save the lives of others.”

Sgt Gibson was in charge of the operation to dig out and defuse the device when another bomb exploded. The bomb he was working on seemed likely to explode, so he sent the rest of his team to shelter and continued to work alone.

War memorial enthusiast Michael Hardy, from Crawcrook, near Gateshead, was enlisted to help find relations. Mr Hardy, who is a member of the Ryton and District War Memorials Project, said: “It’s fantastic that some of Sgt Gibson’s closest family members have come forward. It’s right and fitting that they have the chance to be there when the memorial is unveiled. Their relative was a true hero.

“Before he died, he had previously been awarded the George Cross for his actions in working alone and successfully defusing another unexploded German bomb. His widow received the George Cross posthumously.”

Mr Hardy, 57, added: “Before joining the Royal Engineers he had served 14 years with the Durham Light Infantry (Territorials). He married Elizabeth Hardy and they had two sons, Derek and John.”

Derek’s brother and Sgt Gibson’s second son, John, died several years ago.

Also killed in the Coventry blast were Second Lieutenant Alexander Fraser Campbell and Sappers William Gibson, Richard Gilchrest, Jack Plumb, Ronald William Skelton and Ernest Arthur Stote.
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liverpool annie · Sep 17, 2008

Kyt said: ↑

Relatives to see Chopwell war hero honoured - ChronicleLive
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I'm so glad they found them ..... what a thrill and honour for the family to be there !

Kyt · Oct 16, 2008

BBC NEWS | England | Coventry/Warwickshire | Men killed defusing bomb honoured

A plaque is to be unveiled to remember seven soldiers who were killed as they tried to defuse a bomb near Coventry during World War II.

The men, from the Royal Engineers 9th Disposal Company, died when the German bomb exploded while being unloaded at Whitley Common in October 1940.

Whitley Local History Group will unveil the memorial on Saturday - the 68th anniversary of the incident.

Reg Kimber from the group said the men had given their lives saving others.

"We feel that it's such a significant event and a tragic event that there ought to be something to commemorate the fact that these men died," he said.

Bombed repeatedly

Many people in Whitley were not aware of the incident, Mr Kimber said, and he wanted people to know more about their local area.

Mr Kimber, the history group's secretary, has spent many hours researching the incident and arranging for the memorial to be set up.

The bomb had been found in Coventry city centre, which was repeatedly bombed during the war, and was taken to the common to be defused.

But it exploded as it was being unloaded, killing the soldiers, who were aged between 20 and 42.

The memorial will be on Whitley Common, near to where the men died
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