Casualty Guardsman GIBSON, THOMAS JOHN Service Number 2719629 Died 26/01/1944 Aged 29 1st Bn. Irish Guards Son of Thomas J. and Ellen Gibson; husband of Annie Jane Gibson. INSCRIPTION: IN SILENCE WE REMEMBER. SADLY MISSED BY HIS LOVING WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS Buried at ANZIO WAR CEMETERY Location: Italy Cemetery/memorial reference: IV, A, 9. See cemetery plan
Hi there this is my great-grandfather, who I believe died at the Battle of Carroceto (thank you for taking the time to type out the diary entries for that on another thread, it's truly appreciated). Before I began my research, we did not know a thing about my great-grandfather, but it seems that my grandmother must have been deeply affected by his passing. She was only a teenager at the time of his death, but later went on to name her own son after him, which was a nice surprise for my family. I only have one photograph of him, which I've attached, but I am intrigued. Is there any way to work out what squadron or company he may have been in, perhaps when he joined the batallion? I'm desperate to find more photos of him or anything about his time in the army! Thanks for all your contributions to this forum because without them I wouldn't know the details I now know.
He was indeed. Carroceto was a railway stop just short of Aprilia on the south side. 1 IG were then put into Brigade Reserve but pulled out for the 30 Jan 44 assault from Aprilia to Campoleone. They were tasked with clearing the Vallelata Ridge on the left of the road whilst 1 SG cleared the ridge on the right side of the road. Both battalions walked into a wall of machine guns that were waiting for them. 1 IG suffered horribly that night and the following morning and never really recovered from the experience. Regards Frank