The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Gibson
- First Name:
- Lionel Stephen
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX17974
- Company:
- ‘E’ Company, Special Reserve Battalion, No. 1 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 10.12.1941
- DOB:
- 27.10.1922
- Place of Birth:
- Bunbury, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Clarence Gibson
- Mothers's Name:
- May Maude Gibson (nee Stapleton)
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Farmhand
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Singapore Memorial, Column 136, Age 19.
- Cause of Death:
- Killed in Action Age 19
- Place of Death:
- South‐West Bukit Timah
- Date of Death:
- 11.02.1942
General Description
This re-inforcement soldier Lionel Stephen Gibson, aged 19 years had been in the army exactly 9 weeks from the time of his enlistment to his death at South West Bukit Timah on 11 February 1942. ‘E’ Company ran into a Japanese ambush and only 88 of the 200 men survived.
He was fighting in No. 1 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt. Harry Green who also died in the ambush.
Please read further about ‘E’ Company
Lionel’s parents Clarence Gibson married Mary Maude Stapleton in 1910. Clarence died in Bunbury 1966 and May died in 1971 Bunbury.
The Gibsons had two daughters, Clarice and Bonnie and Lionel. One of Clarence’s older brothers Ernst had fought in WW1 and was KIA France September 1916. His name is inscribed on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial. For Clarence the worst happens – his son is KIA Singapore 26 years later in 1942, Lionel is 19 years old. Ernst Gibson was 39 years old.
Lionel Gibson’s name is inscribed on the WW2 Memorial in Bunbury.
