35667 Rifleman Benjamin Gibbs 25/2/1886-5/10/1918

Mrs J Gibbs has received word that her son, Ben, was killed in action in France on October 5. The late Gunner Benjamin Gibbs received his education at the Pleasant Point school, and was engaged in farming for others and on his own account up till about five years ago. Prior to his enlistment he followed the occupation of a dealer at Kurow. He enlisted with the reinforcements from Timaru, but did not sail from New Zealand till the 23rd Reinforcements left. He was well known about the district.  -Timaru Herald, 22/10/1918.

Benjamin Gibbs joined the army in September, 1916 and embarked for the war the following April.  He spent some time sick in hospital in September and was back with his unit in October, 1917.  Ben was sent for two weeks in August, 1918, to a Lewis Gun training school then had two weeks' UK leave in September.  He was back with his unit on the 22nd.

At the beginning of October, 1918, allied forces were in front of Germany's Hindenberg Line and knew they had to break it to make any further progress.  They knew that their enemy had taken much time and effort to perfect their defences.  They also knew that the German Army was aware that, in February's Spring Offensive, it had used its last chance of victory before the weight of American troops and material would be felt.  At this time in the war, Germany's defeat could be averted only by a miracle.  The end of the war was inevitable, it was just a matter of time.  But many men would die before that end.

The Official History of the NZ Rifle Brigade describes its actions on October 5th, the day Benjamin died, and in particular "A" Company, Ben's Company:

"Along our Brigade front the enemy was found to be very alert, but at 9 a.m. on the morning of the 5th, 2nd Canterbury reported unmistakable signs of the slackening of his hold on the eastern bank of the canal in the sector to the south of us. Major Barrowclough passed on the information to Brigade Headquarters and at once proceeded to essay the crossing on his own front. His left company, "C," under Capt. D. W. McClurg, was already on the eastern side, holding a position immediately south of Crevecoeur. "A" Company (Lieut. H. S. Kenrick) was on the western bank in occupation of two bridge-heads, while "D" and "B" were in support and reserve, respectively. On receipt of orders Lieut. Kenrick promptly commenced the forward movement, sending. 2nd Lieut. C. W. Rule's platoon against the northern bridge, while 2nd Lieut. V. R. Bernard was instructed to force that to the south. It was at once evident that if the enemy had really commenced a withdrawal it was not his intention to retire to any great distance. Rule's men crossed with comparative ease. Bernard's platoon, however, was confronted with a machine-gun post established in the lock-keeper's house, but this was successfully dealt with, and the garrison of eighteen men with their two machine-guns was captured and sent to the rear. The initial stage thus successfully completed, the leading platoons, followed by the third (for at this time the company, being only ninety strong, was organized in three platoons) pressed on with the object of gaining a footing in Masnieres Switch, a strongly-wired trench running due south from Crevecoeur, and lying from 1,000 to 1,500 yards to their front. They had not gone far before intense machine-gun fire opened up from Masnieres Switch, as well as from vantage-points at the Factory by the railway-sidings to the north and at Bel Aise Farm to the south; and to this fire "D" Company, following in support under Capt. A. E. Brown, was also subjected as its foremost sections reached the bridges. Nevertheless the advance proceeded well, and, with the support of Capt. McClurg's men, who co-operated by working down the trench from the north, the leading lines effected an entry into the Switch at various points. On the right, however, the position was far from satisfactory, for the Canterbury troops, who had also crossed, were not in touch, and a counter-attack from the south appeared to be imminent. To meet this danger, Lieut. Kenrick took his supporting platoon up the sunken road leading to Bel Aise Farm, and with them formed a defensive flank, strengthening this with a platoon drawn from Capt. Brown's company.

"In the meantime the 1st Battalion, in the centre, and the 3rd, on the left, had joined in the thrust forward. Under cover of patrols sent out by "A" Company, 1st Battalion, then on the forward edge of the village, two platoons of "D" Company advanced to attack a strong enemy position about the Old Mill of Lesdain, some 300 yards to the east. This was on a slight eminence with a double escarpment, the first of which was successfully taken and held. Attempts were made to blind the position with smoke bombs, but it proved impossible to reduce materially the steady machine-gun fire, and the advance here was definitely hung up. The two platoons suffered 30 casualties. An attempt was now made to secure Lesdain, a village on the other side of the Escaut River to the south-east, with its nearer outskirts not more than 700 yards from those of Crevecoeur. For this task "A" Company was detailed. One platoon, under 2nd Lieut. W. Williams, worked down a small valley leading to Lesdain and took up a covering position. Two platoons then followed and were making ready to deploy for the rush forward through them, when a wounded runner crawled back with a message that 2nd Lieut. Williams and several of his men had been killed, and that the remainder were unable to move in any direction owing to the intense machine-gun fire which had suddenly opened up from the high ground to their right. Investigation showed that the platoons intended for attack could now do nothing but cover the retirement of their comrades, and even this latter operation could not be completed until after dark."

Pleasant Point Cemetery.

IN MEMORIAM

GIBBS —In- loving memory of Gunner Benjamin Gibbs, killed in action, October 5th, 1918. 

Killed in action say the cables,

That is all the tale they tell 

Of' the brave young lad who loved us, 

Or the lad we loved so well.

 —Inserted by his loving mother. 

GIBBS.-—In loving memory of Gunner Benjamin Gibbs, killed in action, Battle of Lille, 5th October, 1918, Late of Pleasant Point.

In a far off grave our hero lies, 

His loving face we miss,

He's gone, but not forgotten 

By those who love him best. 

—Inserted by his loving sister, brother-in-law and family. 

GIBBS.—In loving memory of Gunner Benjamin Gibbs, killed in action, October 5th, 1918. 

He died, that we might live in peace,

He fought for freedom, not for fame. 

Yet on New Zealand's Roll of Honour 

Stands inscribed our hero's name

—Inserted by his sister and brother-in-law, Mr and Mrs R. Wright.  -Timaru Herald, 4/10/1919.

ROLL OF HONOUR.

GIBBS. In loving memory of out clear son and brother. Gunner Benjamin Gibbs, killed in action, in France, 5th October, 1918. 

Two years to-day, but ever in memory dear. 

Thy loving name we breathe and shed a silent tear, 

Time cannot alter our love so true, 

This day brings back our grief anew, 

—inserted by his loving mother and sister May. 

GIBBS.—-In loving memory of Gunner Benjamin Gibbs, killed in action, Battle of Lille, 5th October, 1918. Late of Pleasant Point.

In a far off grave our hero lies, 

His loving face we miss, 

He's gone, but not forgotten

By those who love him best.

 —Inserted by his loving sister, brother-in-law and family.  -Timaru Herald, 5/10/1920.