by Steve Gibbs
Updated: 9 October 2024
Basil Narroway Gibbs Service No. 3109, 7th Reinforcements, 28th Battalion World War I, was killed in action in Flers, France at the age of 27. His body has never been recovered and his name appears on the Australian War Memorial at Villers Bretonneux as the only record of his life.
Basil was born on 2 April 1889, the second son of Ferguson farmers Samuel and Lavinia Gibbs. This new son was more than likely delivered with the help of local midwife Emma Gardiner, Samuel’s older sister.
Basil started school on 21 January 1895 at the Upper Ferguson School attending along with his siblings while living on their parents’ farm Sunny Corner. By the 20 March 1903 Basil had passed Grade 7 and had left school to work on the farm. Basil never married.
On Basil’s enrolment form for enlistment, he was listed as logger timber worker. Like many of the local lads he would have worked on the farm seasonally and supplemented the family income at the nearby Wellington timber mill. The mill town would also have served as a market for their farm produce.
On 16 August 1915, AIF Medical Officer at Bunbury records showed: “I consider him fit for active service with a 6/6.” Basil took the oath, signed and was enlisted.
“I Basil Narroway Gibbs swear I will well and truly serve our sovereign lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force from the date of entering camp until the end of the war………and I will resist his Majesties’ enemies and cause his Majesties’ peace to be kept and maintained; and that I will in all matters pertaining to my service and faithfully discharge my duty according to law. SO HELP ME GOD”
Family folklore remembers Basil, as spending time sitting under a gum tree by the creek while taking a break from tending the potato crop, this became a lasting memory for his family and the tree remains today, fondly referred to as Basil’s tree.
Basil’s military record shows 31 August was his call-up date to Depot 27.
“I reckon this will be a good thing for me, it soon takes the shyness out of a fellow. I have got in with a fine lot of chaps, only been two or three drunks”
Basil Gibbs, Blackboy Hill (Northam Training Camp) September 20, 1915
“I haven’t got cold feet yet but they say there are a few on the camp with them”
Blackboy Hill camp recorded Basil as vaccinated on 27 November 1915.
“A lot of us got caught breaking camp on Wednesday, me amongst them. So they put a guard around the grounds yesterday, of course our platoon fell in for it, 24 hours of it 2 on 4 off. They didn’t catch me again, of course it wasn’t the first time I had been out. I can climb the fence with any of them,” writes Basil.
“I reckon we will be transferred into reinforcements in less than a fortnight. Things don’t seem too good at the front lately and that will help us get away quicker”
Basil Gibbs, Military camp Claremont 29 October 1915.
Basil was appointed to 7th Reinforcements, 28 Battalion, 1 November 1915 signed by the Commanding Officer at Helena Vale Camp. He sailed on the SS Medic on 18 January 1916, writing “We had a real good trip over…a bit sick two or three times”. He disembarked on 16 February, 1916.
“We stopped at 4 different ports on our way over, so I have seen a few different places already. We came through the Suez Canal and disembarked at Alexandria. So we were in the Mediterranean Sea from Port Said. I have been out to see the Pyramids… They are a good size and how they were built and what for beats me.”
“The money here seems to be a bit awkward… Things here are just as dear as they are in the West. The only thing that is much cheaper are the trams & trains,” writes Basil from Heliopolis Camp on 24 February 1916.
Basil embarked from Heliopolis on HT Orana disembarking at Marseilles France on 27 March, 1916 to join up with his battalion.
“I received your letter dated March 22nd yesterday, so you will see that it takes some time for them to get here” Basil’s letter from 18 May 1916. France, to his parents in Australia.
Taken on strength to Northern France 9 June, 1916, according to AIF records, to Armentieres about 11 weeks after landing in France.
“The Germans tried to drop bombs on the camp here on the 25th of April but they didn’t do any damage. It was about 12 at night when they came. They made a big noise and woke us all up but when we got out of our tents we couldn’t see anything of the airship that was dropping them. No doubt they would be well up in the air”
“I don’t suppose I will know the place when I get back”. wrote Basil Northern France on 18 May, 1916.
“I haven’t really been in the front line of trenches yet. I am back in the reserve line, but we get quite close enough for me …I hadn’t better write anything more about that or they will destroy this.”
“I heard that Wellington Mill has closed down, it will make things a bit quiet around there.”
“I haven’t had a decent apple since I left the west. I have had plenty of oranges.”… They have got crops in right close to where we are, you ought to see the effect of the —– on the vegetables or in fact anything that is young and tender you might guess what I mean. It’s just like as if they are frost bitten.” Excerpt from Basil’s letter from France, 20 June 1916.
Basil was one of the lucky men when he was wounded on 28 July 1916 at Pozières in the Somme Valley, France. 4,500 young Australian men died that night. The casualty form 29 July 1916 stated: Wounded in action – Adm. BW. Shoulder & Leg to No 2 Aust Field Ambulance; No 4 C.C. station Adm. SW Head & shoulder. Finally on 31st July 1916 – Adm SW Head & Shoulder to Aust Gen Hospital in Wimereux. (BW is bullet wound, SW Shrapnel wound).
Fw; now reported son Private Basil N Gibbs admitted No 2 Australian General Hospital 30th July gunshot wound Head & Shoulder severe will promptly advise anything further received.
Telegram received by Samuel and Lavinia Gibbs
His AIF casualty form continued: On 10 August No. 1 Conv. Admitted wounded BOULOGNE; 11th August transferred to Base Depot; 12th August No. 2 Div base admitted at ETAPLES; 14th August Proceeded to Unit, 17th August returned to active duty France.
“I don’t know either what they are thinking of to send the last wire, as I was back with the Batt. before it was sent,” writes Basil on 28 October 1916.
Basil also writes: “I can tell you I wouldn’t mind being at home now. I wasn’t satisfied when I was at Blackboy Hill, but if I was back there now, I wouldn’t be in a hurry to get away. I’ve seen enough of the trenches to satisfy me but I suppose I will see some more before long.”
These were the last words he ever wrote received by his family as he was killed in action sometime between the 3 – 6 November 1916 at the battle of Flers, France.
Postmistress Dardanup 27/11/16 – Please inform Mr S. Gibbs Ferguson via Dardanup that his son Pte B.N. Gibbs was killed in action between 3rd & 6th November and convey Defence Dept. sympathy. Military Commandant.
Telegram received by Samuel and Lavinia Gibbs
Basil’s AIF field service death report reads: Killed in action, place of death: no particulars at hand, reported by whom: has – dash. HQ File states (no record available) confirmed by commandant in mail written to London Head office – letter 23rd of November.
It is likely he was killed near Flers where the 28th Battalion was involved in an ill-conceived and confused fighting for a group of trenches known as “the Maze” east of Flers in early November.
AIF Kit store record his effects as; match box, scarf and coins, to be forwarded to his father per ship Barunga 21/6/18 case No. 1102. The family never received the case, it was lost at sea.
Dardanup Heritage Collective 