Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Major R. Gibbon, Manchester Regiment, who was wounded and taken Prisoner of War at the defence of “Manchester Hill” on the first day of the German Spring Offensive

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. R. Gibbon, Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major R. Gibbon), mounted as worn, very fine and better (4) £800-1000

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

Robert Gibbon, who was born in December 1883, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 16th Battalion, Manchester Regiment in March 1915 and first entered the French theatre of war as a Lieutenant in November of the same year. Advanced to Captain in August 1916, shortly after his Battalion’s part in the Somme offensive, Gibbon went on to witness further action in the Third Battle of Ypres, and was serving as a Major at the time of the unit’s spirited defence of “Manchester Hill” on the opening day of the German Spring Offensive in March 1918. His account of the action states:

‘I was captured at Manchester Hill Redoubt near St. Quentin on 21 March 1918, the Battalion H.Q. of the 16th Battalion, Manchester Regiment being surrounded in the course of the German attack. Enemy bombardment commenced at 4.40 a.m. Battalion H.Q. surrounded by 9.30 a.m., the fog which prevailed on that day effectually concealing enemy movements. Attacks on the Redoubt were successfully beaten off until about 4 p.m. About 9 a.m. I received a bullet wound in the left ear but that was not serious. About 1 p.m. I was wounded by a piece of bomb (pineapple) which entered the right shoulder and travelled a few inches along the right arm, breaking same and destroying the Delfoid muscle - I was then taken to the R.A.P. and captured when the enemy gained the position.’

Gibbon, whose C.O., Lieutenant-Colonel William Elstob, D.S.O., M.C., was awarded a posthumous V.C. for the “Manchester Hill” action, was repatriated in December 1918 and demobilised in May 1919.