Arthur GIBSON Private 3423, 1 st /6 th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Died 17 th July 1916. In 1911, 17 year old Arthur Gibson lived with his father Joseph, mother Maggie, 15 year old brother Joseph and 4 year old brother George at ‘Loves Beechburn’, now known as Greenhead, between Howden-le-Wear and Fir Tree. His father was a carter working on a farm while Arthur and Joseph were working as pony drivers in the Beechburn coal mine. On the 13 th February 1915 Arthur enlisted at Bishop Auckland into the 1 st /6 th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Although initially in the reserve forces, he agreed to serve abroad in the event of a National Emergency. Consequently, on the 10 th July 1916, Arthur sailed with his battalion from Southampton to Le Havre where he proceeded to join the 15 th Battalion, DLI. Only a week later, on the 17 th July 1916, he was killed in action in the field, and his body was never recovered. Arthur is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres and also on Howden-le-Wear War Memorial.

RememberingOur Fallen

Howden-le-Wear History Society