The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

Pair: Colour Sergeant, late Captain, E. J. Gibbons, 14th Middlesex (Inns of Court) Rifle Volunteers and City of London Imperial Volunteers, who died at sea en route to South Africa on 23 January 1900

Jubilee 1897, silver (Capt: E. J. Gibbons. I.C.R.V.) contemporarily engraved naming, with case of issue; Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, V.R. (Captain. E. J. Gibbons. 14/Middx. V.R.C.) engraved naming, mounted as worn; together with the related miniature Jubilee Medal; Whitehead Challenge Cup Silver Shield, silver and enamel, obverse inscribed ‘The Whitehead Challenge Cup, Bisley, with representation of the Cup in centre, suspended from a bar reading ‘Volunteers’, with two clasps, 1894 (this adorned by laurel leaves) and 1897, with top ‘double pistol’ brooch bar, in fitted case of issue; three silver crosses awarded by the Inns of Court Rifle Volunteers, the reverses engraved ‘I.C.R.V. Aggregate Cross [Year] won by Lieut. E. J. Gibbons F Company’ for the years 1889, 1891, 1894 respectively (the last with rank Captain), all in cases of issue; and National Rifle Association, Life Members Pass dated 1895, 44mm, bone, issued to Captain Edward J. Gibbons, and signed by Colonel W. Mackinnon, Secretary N.R.A., good very fine or better (7) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Edward James Gibbons was born at Kidderminster, Worcestershire on 17 March 1859, the second surviving son of the Reverend Benjamin Gibbons and his wife Charlotte. His first taste of military life was in the Eton Rifles, before he joined the 14th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers on 3 March 1882. Initially serving in the ranks he was promoted Captain on 5 August 1891 and senior Captain later that year; he was at the time a barrister at 18 Old Square, Lincoln’s Inn & 11 King’s Bench Walk. Resigning his commission on 4 January 1900 in order to join the City Imperial Volunteers as a Private, he was almost immediately promoted to Colour Sergeant in No. 2 Company, Mounted Infantry, C.I.V.

Sadly Gibbons never set foot in South Africa. Having sailed aboard S.S. Briton with his unit on 13 January 1900 he developed heat apoplexy and double pneumonia on 17 January 1900 and died at sea on 23 January 1900. He was buried at sea six days south of Madeira on 24 January 1900, and was not entitled to the Queen’s South Africa Medal.

In February 1901, his family and friends placed a memorial in the form of a churchyard cross together with a plaque at St. James Church, Hartlebury.

Sold together with two books in good condition: Standing Orders for Inns of Court R.V.s, 1886, title page written ‘E. J. Gibbons F Co. 11 Kings Bench Walk, Temple, May 1886’; and Infantry Drill 1896, title page written ‘E. J. Gibbons, C.I.V.’

Note: The Whitehead Challenge Cup was competed for annually at Bisley by teams of 8 representing military units, using military pistols. The Volunteers team won the cup in 1894, and were second in 1897; Gibbons was in the Volunteers’ team on both occasions.

Sold with copied research.