Born at Edgbaston, near Birmingham, c.1837.
Enlisted at Birmingham on the 11th of January 1855.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Engine-driver.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Blue eyes. Dk. brown hair.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 14th of June 1855.
A nominal roll of men of the regiment at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, on the 9th of November 1855 shows him as being On Duty there from the 24th of October.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial for "absence" on the 18th of September 1856 and sentenced to 42 days imprisonment from the 4th of August — 16th of October. 14 days of this sentence were remitted.
"Deserted" on the 27th of February 1858 and rejoined the regiment on the 13th of May 1858. Tried and imprisoned from the 17th of May — 13th of June and to forfeit his previous service of two years 339 days by this conviction.
"Deserted" on the 3rd of May 1859 and rejoined on the 13th of May. Was imprisoned from the 13th of May — 10th of August and to forfeit his previous service of 313 days by this conviction.
Tried for "absence" and imprisoned 31st of March — 11th of May 1866.
Re-engaged for 12 years' further service on the 3rd of September 1867.
Embarked for India aboard the "Serapia" from Portsmouth on the 15th of October 1867.
Between 9th of January 1863 and 16th of January 1874, he was "in cells" for varying periods a total of 14 times.
Discharged from Canterbury on the 9th of May 1876:
It is impossible to say just when his accident occurred, but it must have been at the Canterbury Cavalry Depot. There is no entry for him having been admitted to hospital at the time. He had been invalided to England from Rawalpindi, India, being sent en route for Bombay on the 11th of February 1874 and embarked for England on the 23rd of March. From the Victoria Hospital at Netley to Canterbury on the 27th of April and was sent on furlo 1st — 14th of May 1874.)"Scald", (of leg). Unfit for further service. In May of 1875, whilst lime washing in the cook-house and standing on the copper, his foot slipped and knocking off the lid was immersed in boiling water up to the left knee — in performance of his military duties. Now has stiffness and want of proper motion of the ankle joint with some contraction of the tendons and soft parts. Likely to be more or less permanent. Will be able to eventually contribute in some way towards his livelihood." Not aggravated by vice or intemperance.
Served 19 years 176 days, to count. In the Crimea: 328 days
In India: 6 years 190 days.
(His forfeited service of 3 years 287 days was restored by "Authority of the Horse Guards and War Office", dated 4/10/1875.
Conduct: "very good, latterly."
In possession of four Good Conduct badges.
Twenty-five times entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Once tried by Court-martial.
Aged 39 years 2 months on discharge.
To live at 1, Violet Place, Rawlinge Street, Ladyworth, Birmingham.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.
Entered in red ink on his documents, "Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol," and the date, 2nd of June 1902.
His original pension of 12d. per day was increased to 18d. from the 7th of July 1902.
Not recorded by Lummis and Wynn.
A four-clasp Crimean medal with impressed naming to "H. Gibson. 4th Light Dragoons." was sold from the "Hastings Irwin" collection at a Glendining's auction on the 26 February 1920 and the same medal again at Glendining's on the 27th of July 1928. (See also a 1685 Hugh Gibson below.)
[The following is slightly obscure. Much of the material should probably be integrated above.]
In 1996 a great-granddaughter enquired from the Regimental HQ if they had any more information on him than the family had obtained from a visit to the PRO to obtain a copy of his service record, and in particular anything on his campaign service with the 4th Light Dragoons. Given access to what they had, a letter from her was passed on and further information on him was requested from her. In reply the following was received showing that he was:
Born on the 12th of November 1836, at Ryland Street, Birmingham, the sixth of eight children born to Peter and Harriet Gibson, and was christened at St. Thomas's Church, Bath Row, Birmingham, on the 14th of December 1836.
The 1851 Census shows him as an "Errand Boy", still living in Ryland Street.
Following his discharge from the Army he was admitted to the General Hospital at Birmingham on the 19th of August 1876 and remaining there until the 1st of November 1876 — during which time his leg was amputated. (Obviously because of his accident before being discharged the service).
The 1881 Census shows him as living with a younger brother, Richard, a Warehousman and his family at 56, Peel Street, Winson Green, Birmingham. He was described as being a General Labourer, Unmarried, aged 44, born in Birmingham.
On the 2nd of October 1886 he married Eliza Huxley (a widow, nee Matthews) and had three daughters by her. At this time he himself was living at BK. 75 Devonshire Street, Birmingham, By 1891 he and his family had moved to 3 BK 88 Monument Street, Birmingham, when his occupation was shown as Labourer.
He died on the 14th of October 1905 at the age of 69 at 9, Highgate Street, Birmingham, from "Cardiac Debility, etc.", and was buried in Whitton Cemetery at Birmingham. No headstone was erected.
A comment was also made regarding his professed trade as an "Engine Driver" on enlistment, it being felt that his age would have precluded him from being such and that it was more likely that a static steam engine of some kind was meant.