Major John N Gibbs MC

Major John Neill Gibbs was the son of Percy and Janet Gibbs, and husband of Helena Doreen Kennett Gibbs, of Bedford. He served with 8th Parachute Battalion and was awarded the Military Cross during his military career. he was parachute jump trained at RAF Ringway on Course 44, which ran between 28 December 1942 to 8 January 1943. 

On 13 June 1943, members of 8th Para Bn were on training Exercise Bluebell, and jumped at 15:55 hours over the Firth of Tay in Scotland. The Battalion's war diary records that eight men from this jump landed in the river. Another man, RSM Parsons landed on a sand bank was able to get ashore with help and reported to the police. Initially, no trace of the others was found and they were presumed drowned. This included John.

He is now buried at St Mary and St Helena Churchyard, Elstow, Bedford.

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