MILITARY SERVICE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 245, 15 October 1937, Page 9

MILITARY SERVICE

RECORD OF LIEUT.-COL. GIBBS POSTED TO~fHE RESERVE The latest Gazette announces that Lieutenant-Colonel T. L, Gibbs, V.D., of Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles, having completed his term of command, is posted to the reserve of officers. Lieutenant-Colonel Gibbs started his military career in the ranks of the cadets of the Christchurch Boys’ High School, but since then he has had a varied career, including active service in the Great War.

On leaving school he joined the Canterbury Mounted Rifles as a trooper, being on parade when King George V. inspected the troops in Hagley Park, Christchurch. He rose to the rank of sergeant, but on leaving Christchurch for the south he resigned from the Canterbury Mounted Rifles.

At the commencement of the Territorial scheme he was appointed second lieutenant and placed in charge of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles signal troops at Hinds. He held this position until the outbreak of the Great War. when he volunteered and was appointed signalling officer to the Canterbury Mounted Rifles, N.Z.E.F Main Body. Lieutenant-Colonel Gibbs sailed from New Zealand on the troopship Tahiti, and during the charge he was in charge of signals on the ship. In Egypt extensive training with signallers was carried out, after which Lieutenant-Colonel Gibbs embarked with the mounted rifles on the Glentully Castle for Gallipoli, where he was a signalling officer until he was wounded by shrapnel in the face and arm two months later, and was taken to hospital at Cairo. Returning to Gallipoli, he took oxer the duties ol adjutant of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles, Captain Blair, the former adjutant having been wounded. After the August lighting he was the only officer remaining with the regiment. On September 2 the regiment left Gallipoli for a spell at Lemnos with only 32 other ranks, all that was left of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles. Lieutenant-Colonel Gibbs, who was given the temporary rank of captain, continued to carry out the duties of adjutant. He came off Gallipoli on the last night of the evacuation, and on returning to Cairo assisted with the reorganisation of the regiment, then under the command of Major J. H. Whyte, D.C.M., who has retired as Colonel Whyte, D. 5.0., D.C.M. On May 11, 1936, Lieutenant-Colonel Gibbs’ rank of captain was confirmed.

In the Jordan Valley he was attached to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade headquarters and carried out the duties of staff captain. On completion of these duties he was appointed assistant commandant in Cairo, where he also carried out the duties of commandant of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Egypt, and was mentioned in despatches by General Edmund Allenby, commander-in-chief.

At the conclusion of the war Lieu-tenant-Colonel Gibbs returned to New Zealand as adjutant of the troopship Ellenga, the last troopship to leave Egypt. lie was placed on the retired list in New Zealand, but was recalled totakc charge of the signal troop of the Q.A.M.R. at Toko. LieutenantColonel Gibbs held that position till he was promoted major and appointed second in command of the Q.A.M.R. In 1931 he was awarded the colonial auxiliary forces officers’ decoration and was also awarded the King s silver jubilee medal. On June 1, 1933, he succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Davis, V.D., Wanganui, as commander of Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rilles with the rank of liteutenant-colonel, a position which he has held for four years.

Appreciation of Lieutenant-Colonel Gibbs’ services has been expressed in a letter from Colonel I. T. Standish, C.M.G., D. 5.0., A.D.C., officer commanding the central district, as follows: “On completing your term ol command of the Q.A.M.R. I would like to take the opportunity of writing to you my personal appreciation of the services you have rendered to the New Zealand military forces during the number of years you have been serving. Your keenness and enthusiasm have done much during recent difficult times to maintain the interest of the troops under your command. Although you will no longer be on the active list I am sure that your experience and influence will always be available and be used to further the interests of the Territorial Force/