Private Albert W Gibson

Albert William Gibson, the son of Albert and Edith Gibson, of Sett View, Spring Vale Road, Hayfield and husband of Ethel Gibson, of Marple Bridge, Cheshire enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters.

Tragically Albert's Father, Mother and two Sisters were killed on the evening of 3 July 1942 when two German JU 88s were heading home after a raid on Manchester. They machine gunned the village of Low Leighton, killing a 10 year old boy and a man of 79 and then bombed Hayfield, killing Albert's family, a woman of 47 and a 10 year old girl. Both planes were intercepted over Lincolnshire and shot down. Shortly after this tragedy Private Gibson volunteered for airborne forces.

He undertook parachute training on No 39 Training Course at RAF Ringway, which ran from 27 November to 6 December 1942 and was posted to B Company the 6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion.

Pte Gibson took part in the amphibious landings in Italy in September 1943, on board a mine layer, HMS Abdiel. Unfortunately, HMS Abdiel struck a mine in Taranto Harbour causing significant casualties and loss of life, including Pte Gibson.

Pte Gibson died at sea on 10 September 1943, aged 31.

He is commemorated on the Cassino Memorial.

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