OBITUARY

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 26, 7 June 1940, Page 4

OBITUARY

Major G. A. Gibbs Major G. A. Gibbs. • Quartermaster and Staff Officer to the Director-General of Medical Services, Army Headquarters, Wellington, died May 29th in M ellington. Major Gibbs, who was 66 years of age, had been in retirement for some years, but at the outbreak of war he returned to his old post. Major Gibbs, who was born in Portsmouth, England, in 1874, joined- the Royal Army Medical Corps at the age of 14 .and' entered a training school at Aidershot. At the end of his training there and elsewhere he was qualified, in every branch of the medical services short of gaining his medical degree. In 1915 the New Zealand Army authorities asked for a R.A.M.C. warrant officer to be sent to this country' to assist the late Surgeon-General Sir Robert Henderson, who had come out to take charge of the New Zealand Army Medical Services. The War Office in London selected Major Gibbs for the job. He arrived in New Zealand in October, 1915, and the following. May was appointed lieutenant-quartermas-ter. He was promoted to captain and quartermaster in January, 1917, and in April, 1918, was appointed Deputy-As-sistant Director of Medical Services. He was given the rank of major on December 1 of that year. In 1919 he was discharged from the R.A.M.C. and transferred to the New Zealand Army Medical Corps with the rank of major. He remained on the staff till 1931. when, he retired bn superannuation. Fie returned to Army Headquarters on September 23 last. Major Gibbs played a very large part in the organization of the New Zealand Army Medical Corps during the .last war. - He is survived, by one son, Mr. G. A. Gibbs, Ngaio, and two daughters, Mrs. 11. Shepherdson, Karori, ( and- Sister Eileen Gibbs, of the Queen Alexandra Army Nursing Service, , who is at present stationed ,in India. Major Gibbs will be accorded a military funeral to-' morrow after Requiem Mass at the Basilica, Hill Street, at 10 a.m.