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| Casualty No.: |
|
Ranks: |
Sergeant |
Initials: |
M |
Service No.: |
4445289 |
|
| Date of Birth : |
- |
Place of Birth : |
|
Age at Death: |
34 |
|
| Unit: |
9 Bomb Disposal Company, Royal Engineers. |
|
| Former Unit(s): |
Durham Light Infantry (Territorials) |
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| Place Enlisted: |
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| Place of Residence: |
Greenside, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Home Address: |
School Houses, Landsdale, Greenside, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Previous Address: |
Thames Street, Chopwell, Co. Durham, and Bolton's Bungalows, Chopwell,
Co. Durham.
|
| Civilian Employment: |
Miner at Chopwell Colliery. |
| How Died: |
Killed whilst attempting to defuse an unexploded delayed action bomb. |
| Date of Death: |
Friday 18th October 1940 |
| Place of Death: |
Coventry, Warwickshire. |
| Battle/Campaign: |
|
| Locally Commemorated: |
No |
| UK Commemorated: |
Chopwell War Memorial, Chopwell, Co. Durham. |
| Overseas Commemorated: |
- |
| Buried: |
London Road Cemetery, Coventry, Warwickshire. |
| Decoration and Medals: |
George Cross. Defence Medal.
War Medal.
|
| Photographs: |
1 |
| Service Records: |
No |
| Death Notice/Obituary: |
|
| Family Details: |
Husband of Mrs Gibson, of School Houses, Landsdale, Greenside, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Two children.
Thirteenth member of the family out of seventeen.
|
| Notes : |
Michael was awarded the George Cross posthumously for bravery whilst working under extremely dangerous and hazardous conditions.
He had previously supervised the excavation of a large unexploded bomb which fell on a factory on 14th October 1940. Whilst working on the bomb another one nearby exploded, but Sergeant Gibson continued with his work. Because of the dangerous situation he sent his men away from the area and continued to work alone, successfully defusing the bomb. Sergeant Gibson was killed on a later date attempting to defuse a delayed action bomb. He and his squad had managed to remove an unexploded bomb from a residential area of Coventry. It was whilst the bomb was on a lorry, it exploded, killing Sergeant Gibson, Lieutenant A.F. Fraser and five other Sappers. His widow received the George Cross posthumously from King George VI at Buckingham Palace, for his actions on the 14th September.
At the time of his death his wife and his two children were visiting the Midlands and actually saw the bomb explosion from a short distance, not knowing at the time of the devastating consequences.
Up until the war Sergeant Gibson worked as a miner at Chopwell Colliery. He had fourteen years army service with the Durham Light Infantry (Territorials). He later transferred to the Royal Engineers at the onset of war.
Sergeant Gibson's brother in law, Pte. William Hardy, of the same bomb disposal squad, was also involved in a bomb explosion on the same day. His severe injuries included a fractured spine (he went on to make a good recovery).
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| Sources Used: |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register,
Blaydon Courier.
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