Lieutenant James Herbert Gibson
James Herbert Gibson was born on 23 April 1888 at Glastry, Newtownards, County Down, the last of three children of Methodist minister the Reverend Thomas Edmund Gibson and his wife Susanna Isabel (nee Pearson). Gibson was first employed as a clerk in the Bank of Ireland at Londonderry. By 1911 he was working at the bank's Wexford branch and living as a boarder at 8 Main Street.
Gibson enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 6 July 1915 (No.1702). By then he was living with his family at the Manse, Osborne Park, Belfast. On 17 August he was confined to camp for three days for 'irregular conduct'. While at Antrim he was promoted to corporal on 30 December 1915, lance sergeant on 7 February 1916, and sergeant on 10 June 1916. He embarked for France on 12 September that year, where he was posted to D Squadron, then part of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment.
On 27 December Gibson applied for a commission in the cavalry. He left France for England on 22 February 1917 and after a period of leave, on 23 April reported for duty at No.1 Cavalry Cadet Squadron at Netheravon.
On 25 August 1917 Gibson was commission as a 2nd lieutenant and posted to the 2nd Reserve Cavalry Regiment. Soon after, he was attached to the 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars regiment, which was then serving in Mesopotamia. Gibson embarked for Basrah, via Bombay, arriving there on 3 March 1918. He joined the 7th Hussars in the field six weeks later.
Gibson was attached to the Dunsterforce as field cashier on 29 July 1918. He joined the unit on 1 September, just prior to its disbandment. He was then posted to the North Persian Force (Norperforce) at Kasvin, in the accounts and audit office. He was promoted to lieutenant on 25 February 1919.
Gibson left Persia for home on 8 April 1919. He relinquished his commission on 23 May that year.
After the war Gibson resumed work at the Bank of Ireland. He died on 22 December 1939. The Belfast Telegraph reported:
The death took place at his residence 9 Eglinton Park, Kingstown, of Mr. James Herbert Gibson, agent at the Ballsbridge branch of the Bank of Ireland. Deceased, who was about 52 years of age, had been connected with the bank for 30 years. He was a son of the late Rev. T. E. Gibson, who was minister at Donegall Square and Carlisle Memorial Methodist Churches, Belfast. Mr. Gibson entered the service at Derry, but on the outbreak of the Great War enlisted in the North Irish Horse with which he served in France. On being demobilised he was transferred to Head Office, and some years later when the Ballsbridge branch was started he was appointed agent. Mr. Gibson was well-known in the golfing world, being a former captain of the Carrickmines and Kingstown Clubs. The funeral yesterday to Dean's Grange Cemetery, Dublin, was attended by chief officials of the Bank of Ireland and representatives of the Kingstown Golf Club. He is survived by his wife with whom sympathy is felt in her bereavement.