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Archibald Dickson Lockhart GIBSON
| Rank | Reg/Ser No | DOB | Enlisted | Discharge/Death | Board |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lieut | 2022 | 11 May 1896 19y5m | 7 Oct 1915 | 29 Aug 1919 | 1 |
Lieutenant Archibald Dickson Lockhart Gibson (1896 – 1981)
The first two honour boards unveiled at Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Brisbane were dedicated on Sunday 10 October 1915. Each displayed in gold lettering the names of 51 men and women who were amongst the first to answer the call to serve their country in the Great War. On the top line on one of these boards was the name of Major J. Lockhart Gibson MD1 and amongst the names on the other board - that headed by the name of the minister, Rev Dr E. N. Merrington2 - are the names of Dr Lockhart Gibson’s twin sons, Walter3 and Archibald.
Walter and Archibald Lockhart Gibson shared their boyhood and schooling experiences. They both married in 1927 and they both died in 1981. They were both wounded in action during World War 1 but in different theatres of war. Their lives were also quite different in other respects: One gained a commission in the AIF while the other remained a private; one followed his father in the medical profession while the other became a successful grazier in Western Queensland.
Family background and early life
Archibald Dickson Lockhart Gibson was born at Chiefswood, Brisbane on 11 May 1896, twin son of John Lockhart Gibson and Mary Florence née Burkitt (1864 - 1948). He attended Brisbane Grammar School from February 1910 to October 1914 and was a member of the Champion Senior Cadet Team of Australia in 1913 – 14. Like his brother Walter who was in the same winning team, he continued his military interests by serving in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment in Brisbane in the Citizen Forces.
Enlistment and service
On leaving school he became a clerk in Brisbane before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on 7 October 1915 at the age of 19 years five months.
Appointed initially to reinforcements for the 5th Light Horse Regiment, Private A. D. L. Gibson, Regimental Number 2022 embarked from Brisbane on board His Majesty’s Australian Transport Wandilla on 31 January 1916 bound for Egypt where training and reorganisation took place after the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula. He was transferred to 11th Field Artillery Brigade from 17 May 1916 with rank of bombardier and joined the British Expeditionary Force in action in France later that year. There followed however a lengthy period of illness requiring treatment for laryngitis in hospital in England.
Bombardier Gibson rejoined his artillery unit in France in late June 1917. He was promoted to corporal on 1 November 1917. On 9 April 1918 he was wounded in action, suffering a gunshot wound to his left ear. He was able to rejoin his unit in the field in early May and shortly afterwards commenced cadet training in riding, gunnery, map reading, signalling and command at Reserve Army Artillery School at Brighton, England. On the completion of the course in December 1918, Commanding officers remarked on Corporal Gibson’s keen interest and intelligence. He was appointed to the rank of 2nd lieutenant on 2 January 1919 and lieutenant on 2 April 1919. Lieutenant Gibson returned to Australia per the troopship Ypiranga and his appointment was terminated on 29 August 1919.
Post war
Returning to his parents’ home at Bardon, Archibald Gibson again worked for a short time as a clerk before moving to a property at Muttaburra called Greenhills where he was a jackaroo. He later managed Glendullock situated near Longreach in the centre of fine sheep breeding and wool growing land in Central Queensland.
Marriage and family
On 27 September 1927 he married Elma Hayman Glennie Collins at St Paul’s Cathedral, Rockhampton. The bridegroom’s gift to the bride was a string of pearls and the wedding bouquet and the bride presented the groom with a set of military brushes suitably inscribed. The couple settled at Glendullock and later acquired Hartree Station, Morella. A. D. Lockhart Gibson became a well known grazier in the Longreach district. He was a member of the Graziers’ Association of Central and Northern Queensland and was active in the buying and selling of rams to develop better flocks and improving bore pumps and casing for the supply of water.
Archibald and Elma Lockhart Gibson had three children. Mrs Elma Gibson died in 1970. Their son John took over Hartree after Archibald moved to Pioneer Home in Longreach where he died in 1981, aged 85 years.
Compiled by Noel E. Adsett, Brisbane. January 2017 ©
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