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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 126

The campaign group of eight awarded to Private J. Gibbs, Diamond Field Artillery, later Rhodesia Regiment, a long-served soldier with nearly half a century of service, who first volunteered in Kimberley in 1899 whilst working for De Beers and went on to span both World Wars

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Defence of Kimberley, Orange Free State, Transvaal (137 Bomb: J. Gibbs. D.F.A.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (137 Dvr. J. Gibbs. Diamond F.A.); 1914-15 Star (Pte G. Gibbs 7th. Infantry.); British War and Victory Medals (1388 Pte. J. Gibbs. 2-Rhodesia Regt.); War and South Africa Service Medal 1939-45, these both named '43251 J. Gibbs'; Kimberley Star 1900, hallmarked 'A' to the reverse, mounted court-style as worn, the Great War awards sometime silvered, edge bruising to Boer War awards, overall good very fine (8)

Jack Gibbs was born in London on 21 April 1881 and emigrated to South Africa where he worked as an Engine Man for the De Beers Diamond Company. He was there on the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War enrolled with the Diamond Field Artillery on 16 March 1899, seeing out the duration of the siege with them and later served further afield. The unit was comprised of a battery of six guns, later augmented by a pom-pom gun as well.

Gibbs resigned on 29 January 1903, his Great War attestation papers state settled in Kimberley after the war, marrying in 1912, he doubtless returning to De Beers as he was to be an engine man and machinist for his entire life. The outbreak of the Great War saw him returning to the colours, joining the 2nd Kimberley Regiment- the 7th Infantry Regiment- on 4 October 1914. This unit was the successor to the Diamond Fields volunteer Regiments and served in German South West Africa during the Campaign there.

He was to leave the unit on 13 August 1915 and joined the 2nd Rhodesian Regiment, seeing service in East Africa with them. Returning to Cape Town on 8 November 1916 he was found to be suffering with Malaria and was invalided on 20 January 1917.

Settling in Johannesburg at some stage after the war Gibbs was not prepared to pass up the opportunity for further service. As such when the Second World War began he attested at Sandwater on 5 June 1940. Joining the South African Motor Transport Corps, service in South Africa for the duration of the conflict. He was however 59 years of age upon his attestation and the strain of the work appears to have been too great for him, Gibbs was discharged as medically unfit on 23 December 1941. He died at Addington Hospital, Durban on 17 August 1961 with his profession listed as retired Diamond Miner (below ground); sold together with an extract from David Biggins roll for the Siege of Kimberely, death certificate and copied service papers.

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Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£480