Trafford

Born during the March quarter 1889 in te Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/173, the
son of Walter & Sarah Anne Gibb (nee Knott).

1891 Census - 125 Sussex Road, North Meols, Ormskirk, Lancashire.    Son -
aged: 2 - born: Brooklands, Cheshire.    Head of household - Walter Gibb -
Married - aged: 29 - occ: Clerk - born: Manchester.   Also - Sarah A. Gibb
- Wife - aged: 28 - born: Manchester.   Plus 1 domestic servant.

1901 Census - 51 Alexander Road (private School), Southport, Lancashire.   
Boarder - aged: 12 - Scholar - born: Brooklands, Cheshire.

His parents were residing at Banks Road, Hoylake cum West Kirby,
Lancashire.  His father was the head of household, his occ: Hotel
Proprietor, aged: 39.  Also Sarah A. Gibb - Wife - aged: 38.   There were
also 37 residents and 30 staff members. 

No date - His parents resided at  Ashbourne Hall, Derby before moving to
Matlock.

1911 Census - Smedley Street, Matlock, Derbyshire.   Nephew - aged: 22 -
occ: Clerk & Traveller - born: Cheshire.    Head of household - Charles
Gibb (Eric's Uncle) - Single - aged: 45 - occ: Cabinet Maker - born:
Cheshire.   Also Ellen Gibb (Eric's Aunt) - Single - aged: 47 - born:
Manchester.  Plus Walter Gibb - (Eric's Father - Married - aged: 49 - occ:
Hotel Manager - born: Manchester.   Sarah Anne Gibb (Eric's Mother) Married
- aged: 48 - born: Manchester.

WO363 - Enlisted at Manchester on the 24th September 1914.  He was aged 25
years 8 months and born at Brooklands, Cheshire.   His occupation given as
Commercial Traveller.    He was 5 feet 9 inches in height, weighed 143 lb
with chest measurements of 34 - 36 inches.   On the 9th October 1915, he
was charged with Overstaying his pass from 10.30 pm to 11.35 pm - given 3
days C.B. (Confined to Barracks).  Posted to France and sailed from
Southampton on the 8th January 1916.

By December 1917 Eric's parents were residing at the Grenville Hotel, Bude,
Cornwall, they were still there in October 1919.

See "Manchester Scottish" by Roger Dowson.

On the 1st July, the 15th Bn attacked from a forward trench line running NW
to SE, south of La Boiselle down to Becourt Wood.  Their objective was four
German trench lines in front of Contalmaison.    After the Lochnagarr and
the La Boiselle mines were blown, they went over the top to be met by
murderous German machine gun fire.    Although the Germans had been
subjected to an enormous barrage of shell fire for a week previous, they
were all well hidden deep underground and simply surfaced when the barrage
ended to man the machine guns.