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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

James Alexander Gibson

In memory of:

Private James Alexander Gibson

June 13, 1916

Military Service


Service Number:

409128

Force:

Army

Unit:

Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)

Division:

13th Bn.

Additional Information


Commemorated on Page 91 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

Panel 24 - 26 - 28 - 30

Location:


The Menin Gate Memorial is situated at the eastern side of the town of Ypres (now Ieper) in the Province of West Flanders, on the road to Menin and Courtrai. It bears the names of 55,000 men who were lost without trace during the defence of the Ypres Salient in the First World War. Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and erected by the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission, it consists of a Hall of Memory", 36.6 metres long by 20.1 metres wide. In the centre are broad staircases leading to the ramparts which overlook the moat, and to pillared loggias which run the whole length of the structure. On the inner walls of the Hall, on the side of the staircases and on the walls of the loggias, panels of Portland stone bear the names of the dead, inscribed by regiment and corps. Carved in stone above the central arch are the words:


TO THE ARMIES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO STOOD HERE FROM 1914 TO 1918 AND TO THOSE OF THEIR DEAD WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE.

Over the two staircases leading from the main Hall is the inscription:

HERE ARE RECORDED NAMES OF OFFICERS AND MEN WHO FELL IN YPRES SALIENT BUT TO WHOM THE FORTUNE OF WAR DENIED THE KNOWN AND HONOURED BURIAL GIVEN TO THEIR COMRADES IN DEATH.

The dead are remembered to this day in a simple ceremony that takes place every evening at 8:00 p.m. All traffic through the gateway in either direction is halted, and two buglers (on special occasions four) move to the centre of the Hall and sound the Last Post. Two silver trumpets for use in the ceremony are a gift to the Ypres Last Post Committee by an officer of the Royal Canadian Artillery, who served with the 10th Battery, of St. Catharines, Ontario, in Ypres in April 1915."

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Newspaper clipping– In memory of the men and women of London, Ontario (and area) who went to war and did not come home. Remembered on the pages of the World War One issues of the London Advertiser. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of James Gibson– James Gibson - Killed in action June 13, 1916 just 10 days after his brother, George
  • Photo of James Gibson– The picture shows James Gibson and his brother George, who served with the Montreal Highlanders.  It is believed that James was killed by a sniper and George a week later by a mine.  One of them is 3rd from the left, top row, the other 4th from the left front row, but it is not known which.
  • Monument– A shaft with statue (granite and bronze) at 32 Wilmot Street South, Drumbo, ON. 
Erected by the Village of Drumbo, this memorial was unveiled in 1920 and dedicated in loving memory of local fallen heroes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[front/devant]

ARTHUR G. COWAN
FERGUSON COOK
A. JAMES GIBSON
ROBERT A. GIVEN
J. CHRYSLER KILGOUR
FRANCIS A. LAW
FREDERICK LODGE
ROBERT M. McTAGUE
WILLIAM R. WILSON

IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN HEROES 1914 - 1918

[side/côté]

IN LOVING MEORY OF
ALFRED E. CLAYTON
J. McBETH MURRAY
BENTLEY ROBSON
CHARLES H. WALLACE
1939 - 1945
"GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN."
Photo Credit: Allison Nelson; Derek Pullen 
http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/nic-inm/sm-rm/mdsr-rdr-eng.asp?PID=592
  • Memorial– Inscription on the Menin Gate … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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