Private Richard Gibson, 3rd Royal Sussex Regt

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in 1914 that Richard Gibson is serving his King and Country.  In October 1915 it notes, Gibson, Private R, 3rd Royal Sussex and in January 1916 adds the information that he is in England.  The final entry, in December 1916 simply repeats, Gibson, Private R, 3rd Royal Sussex. 

This man could be Richard William Gibson born at Hailsham, Sussex in 1885 but further research is needed to prove this.  The 3rd Royal Sussex Regiment was the original Special Reserve battalion which remained in England throughout the war and if Richard did remain with this battalion he would not have been entitled to receive the British War and Victory medals.  The National Archives lists a medal card held in the name of 8/24 Richard W Gibson of the 2nd  Royal Sussex Regiment and it is possible that this man is the same R Gibson mentioned in Chailey’s parish magazine.  The number indicates an early enlistment with the 8th Royal Sussex Regiment and a subsequent transfer to the 2nd Battalion. 

Further research is necessary to positively identify this man.

Richard William Gibson

I've updated the page for Richard Gibson and added him as another Great War fatality. Chailey Parish Magazine doesn't have an awful lot to say about him. He's mentioned as serving his King and Country in 1914 but by December 1916 he disappears altogether.

Whilst I can't be sure, I feel fairly confident that this man is the same Richard William Gibson who lost his life in September 1916 whilst serving with the 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment. He was a regular soldier (enlisting circa 1904) and an Old Contemptible, having arrived in France at the end of August 1914.

Richard has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme. His name does not appear on the Chailey War Memorial or on the memorial at Hailsham where he was born.

Funnell, Gibbs and Gibson updated

I have updated the biographies of three more men; details below.

Henry Edgar Funnell
This man appears in Chailey Parish Magazine as Edgar Funnell, E Funnell and H Funnell. At least I believe that all three are one and the same man. I have updated his page to include details of his ASC number and also information taken from the 1891 and 1901 census returns.

Arthur Gibbs
I have added two possible army service numbers for this man who served with the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC).

Richard Gibson
I have made some more tentative guesses about this man's identity and his WW1 service but still need to do more work in order to confirm the assumptions I have made.