Some more great news today that another of my uncommemorated cases has been accepted for commemoration by the CWGC:
Henry Charles Thomas Gibbs, Lance Corporal, 28521, Welsh Regiment. Henry was born on 5 May 1897, the son of Thomas Gibbs and Elizabeth Gibbs (nee Roberts), of 38, Bloy Street, Easton, Bristol. He worked as a labourer prior to enlisting into the Welsh Regiment at Bristol on 19 April 1915, attesting for the 18th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, a Bantam Battalion, joining the battalion at Porthcawl the following day. On 31 March 1916 Henry was transferred to the 22nd Welsh, a training reserve battalion, becoming promoted to Lance Corporal before being drafted to France on 15 June 1916, joining the 14th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, the Swansea City Battalion. The 14th Welsh was attached to 114 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division and was on the Somme by the time Henry arrived, preparing to launch its first assault on Mametz Wood. Henry survived the carnage at Mametz Wood, and moved with the division to the Ypres Salient later that summer, where it took up positions along the canal bank at Boesinghe. Henry was shot in the face in September, but soon recovered, however he took ill during his first winter in the trenches and was diagnosed as suffering from heart disease before being invalided home in January 1917. He was discharged from the army as medically unfit on 31 May 1917 and returned home to Bristol. Sadly his health never recovered and Henry died at Bristol Royal Infirmary on 28 April 1919, of heart disease contracted on active service. He was buried in Greenbank Cemetery, Bristol. Henry had today, 18 December 2025, been accepted for commemoration by the CWGC following a direct application from myself. He will be commemorated in the United Kingdom Book of Remembrance at Maidenhead until the location of his grave is verified.
