Staff Sergeant Thomas Wilfred Gibson VX2481, 6 Div. Australian Headquarters, A.I.F.

Thomas Wilfred was born in August 1908 in Durban, South Africa to parents George and Alice (nee Young) Gibson. His parents were married on 4th December 1893 in Reitz, Orange Free State, South Africa. Thomas had 6 siblings.

Thomas immigrated to Australia in 1933 on the ship Themistocles. His brother George (who also served) immigrated to Australia in 1934. Thomas’ occupation was a clerk and he resided in Victoria.

When WWII broke out Thomas enlisted in Melbourne on the 25th October 1939.

On 1st November 1939 he was transferred to Puckapunyal. On 21st April 1940 he was transferred to HQ 6th Artillery. In February 1940 he disembarked at El Kantara (Middle East) and was appointed Lance Corporal in April of that year. In 1941 he was promoted to Staff Sergeant.

Thomas is ‘mentioned in despatches', which meant he showed exemplary action during military operations. His name was then officially published in government gazettes, such as The London Gazette.

In early 1942 the Australian Prime Minister, John Curtin, pulled back Aussie troops from the Middle East, following the entry of Japan into the war (Pearl Harbor December 1941) and the fall of Singapore to Japanese forces.

Thomas returned with other troops to Australia and was then sent to New Guinea and disembarked Port Moresby in November 1942. However, he had been suffering from illness due to a likely gall bladder stone and his casualty form states cause of admission to hospital as “Bile Duct Jaundice” and it is noted that he underwent a ‘Cholecystectomy” (which is surgical removal of the gallbladder).

Sadly Thomas passed away on 25th November 1942.

He is buried in the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery (Block B, Plot 1, Row 3, Grave 21).

He is also commemorated on the South African Roll of Honour (No. 8126) as well as the Australian War Memorial Commemorative Area (Panel 78).