Dick Gibbs

Richard Horace Maconochie Gibbs MC (4 February 1893 – 19 July 1916), a medical student and an Australian rules footballer, played with the Melbourne University Football Club in the Victorian Football League.[2][3]

This article is about the Australian rules footballer. For the basketball player, see Dick Gibbs (basketball).

Dick Gibbs
Personal information
Full name Richard Horace Maconochie Gibbs
Date of birth (1893-02-04)4 February 1893
Place of birth Warracknabeal, Victoria
Date of death 19 July 1916(1916-07-19) (aged 23)
Place of death Fleurbaix, France[1]
Original team(s) Caulfield Grammarians
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1912–14 University 35 (3)
1915 Melbourne 00 (0)
Total 35 (3)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1915.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

When the University team withdrew from the VFL competition in 1915, he was transferred to the Melbourne Football Club, but never played a game due to his enlistment in the First AIF. He was killed in action, in France, on 19 July 1916.

Family

The son of physician and surgeon Richard Horace Gibbs (1863-1919),[4] L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S.Ed, L.F.P.S.G., and Helen Gibbs (1868-1959), née Maconochie,[5] Richard Horace Maconochie Gibbs was born at Warracknabeal, Victoria on 4 February 1893.[6] He was a cousin of Lieutenant Walter Horace Carlyle "Lyle" Buntine (1895-1917), MC.[7]

Brother's death

His younger brother, John Harbinger Gibbs (1897-1917), also attended Caulfield Grammar School,[8] and also served in the First AIF. First taken ill at Gallipoli, John eventually died of illness at his father's Colac home, aged 20, on 13 October 1917, having been repatriated to Australia from England (on 16 July 1917) seriously ill with advanced pulmonary tuberculosis and, initially, he had been admitted to the Caulfield Military Hospital.[9][10][11][12]

Father's closure of his medical and surgical practice

Greatly distressed by the loss of both sons, his father — who had also been the local area Recruiting Depot's medical examining officer[13] — closed his medical practice in Colac;[14] and, having decided to use his professional skills to provide medical care for the sick and wounded soldiers who were returning to Australia,[15][16] his father was gazetted a Major in the AIF, and was appointed Senior Surgeon at No 16 Australian General Hospital in Macleod.[17][18]

Father's death

On the way home to Malvern on 12 July 1919, his father boarded a Swanston Street cable tram, and was badly injured when he overbalanced and fell from the back platform of the rapidly moving cable tram, upon which he was standing, as it swung round the curve from St Kilda Road into Domain Road, South Yarra. His head hit the roadway, and he sustained a fractured skull, He was taken to the Caulfield Military Hospital, where he died of his injuries on the following day (13 July 1919).[19] His body was taken from the hospital to Spencer Street station, en route to Colac, on Tuesday, 15 July:[20][21]

"With the No. 3rd district guard band playing the Dead March, the body of Major E. H. Gibbs; senior-surgeon at McLeod Military Hospital, was conveyed from Caulfield Hospital to Spencer-street railway station yesterday. The coffin was curried on a gun carriage, draped with flags, and covered with wreaths. A contingent of 800 returned men, including invalids from McLeod Hospital, in charge of Colonel [Herbert Augustus] Embling, O.C., and Colonel A. H. Sturdee [the Principal Medical Officer for Victoria], represented the district commandant. The funeral will take place at Colac to-day, and arrangements are being made by Colonel [George Alfred] M'Leod, officer commanding local Light Horse, for a military funeral." (The Age, 16 July 1919)[22]

His father was buried in Colac on 16 July "with military honours. A large number of returned men attended. The streets were lined with thousands of spectators."[23]

Education

He was educated at Colac Grammar School and at Caulfield Grammar School,[24][25] where, in addition to football, he represented the school in both long jump and 440 yards in the team (which included John Robinson)[26] that won the 1911 Schools Amateur Athletic Association's sports meeting,[27][28] and in swimming.[29] He commenced his medical studies at the University of Melbourne in 1912.[30]

University of Melbourne's team for the annual (inter-varsity) football match against University of Adelaide, played in Adelaide on 12 August 1914 (Gibbs is at far right of back row).

Football

He played Inter-Varsity football for the University of Melbourne;[31] and was awarded a full blue for football.[32][33]

He played 35 games for the Melbourne University First XVIII in the VFL competition over three seasons (1912-1914).[34] He played well in his first match, against Essendon, on 27 April 1912 (round one),[35] with the reporter remarking that, "although yet only a boy, he marked and kicked so well that he gives great promise".[36]

The University team withdrew from the VFL competition prior to the 1915 season; and, having been given a clearance to transfer from University to Melbourne,[37] Gibbs tried out with Melbourne in the pre-season of 1915.[38] However, his enlistment meant that he was unable to play with Melbourne.

Military

He enlisted in the First AIF in May 1915. At the time he was a third-year medical student at Melbourne University.[39]

On 1 June 1916, Second Lieutenant R. H. M. Gibbs was promoted to Lieutenant.[40]

He was killed on 19 July 1916, in his first clash with the enemy. He was posthumously awarded the Military Cross, "for conspicuous gallantry in action",[41] when leading his troops over a parapet, despite heavy German gunfire:[42][43]

"At Petillon on the 19th/20th July 1916, when his Company Commander was seriously wounded immediately prior to the order to charge Lieut. Gibbs took charge and led his men over the parapet. By his example the men were spurred on, and although advancing under a galling machine gun and rifle fire he kept his men moving steadily forward in perfect line and order. Lieut. Gibb's calm and collected manner gave his men the impulse necessary to carry them as far as it was possible to go."[44][45]

He was originally reported as "missing";[46][47] and was not reported as "killed in action" until October 1917.[48][49]

See also

Footnotes
  1. Main, J. & Allen, D., "Gibbs, Richard MC", pp.71-72 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen — The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002.
  2. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Bas Publishing. p. 283. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
  3. Note that, in many instances, contemporary newspaper sports reports (mistakely) give his family name as Gibb, rather than Gibbs (often using both spellings in the same item; e.g., Football: Magpies in the Wet: Collingwood Defeat University, The Argus, (Monday, 2 June 1913), p4).
    It is clear from the VFL records that he is the only "Gibb" or "Gibbs" to play for the Melbourne University over its entire time in the VFL competition (1908-1914).
  4. Deaths: Gibbs, The Argus, (Monday, 14 July 1919), p.1.
  5. Engagements, Table Talk, (Friday, 15 January 1892), p.14; Marriages: Gibbs—Maconochie, Table Talk, (Friday, 6 May 1892), p.12; Marriages: Gibbs—Maconochie, The Australasian, (Saturday, 14 May 1892), p.46.
  6. Births: Gibbs, The Age, (Saturday, 18 February 1893), p.3.
  7. Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll: Lieutenant Walter Horace Carlyle Buntine; D., "A noble son fall’n to Earth - The Short Life of Lt. Lyle Buntine MC", Military History and Heritage Victoria, Inc.
  8. School Speech Days: Caulfield Grammar School, The Argus, (Tuesday, 14 December 1915), p.5.
  9. Deaths: Gibbs, The Argus, (Monday, 15 October 1917), p.1.
  10. Studio portrait of Private John Harbinger Gibbs, 5th Battalion, of Colac, Vic. at : "A student prior to enlistment, Pte Gibbs embarked with the 5th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Hororata (A20) on 17 April 1915. Pte Gibbs first became ill whilst serving at Gallipoli. During his service Gibbs was issued with a new service number 154, and attached to Administration Headquarters in London. He was repatriated to Australia on 16 July 1917, and died of illness at his home in Colac, Vic, on 13 October 1917, aged 20."
  11. World War One Service Record: John Harbinger Gibbs (154), National Archives of Australia.
  12. Personal, The Colac Reformer, (Tuesday, 16 October 1917), p.2.
  13. Colac and District Honor Roll, The Colac Herald, (Friday, 27 October 1916), p.4.
  14. Farewell to Dr Gibbs, The Colac Reformer, (Tuesday, 19 March 1918), p.3; Farewell to Dr. Gibbs by Colac Citizens, The Colac Herald, (Wednesday, 20 March 1918), p.3.
  15. Ladies' Letter, Table Talk, (Thursday, 17 July 1919), p.27.
  16. Staff in an operating theatre of No 16 Australian General Hospital, Macleod, Vic. (Major Richard Horace Gibbs, third from left), Australian War Memorial.
  17. Australian Military Forces: Appointments, etc: 3rd Military District, Australian Army Medical Corps Reserve, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, p.1147.: Appointment as Major, serving at No.16 Australian General Hospital (Macleod), effective 1 May 1918.
  18. Studio portrait of Major (Maj) Richard Horace Gibbs, Senior Surgeon, No 16 Australian General, Macleod, Vic.:
    "At the outbreak of the First World War Gibbs was residing and working as a practitioner and surgeon at Colac, Vic. As a civilian he became involved in securing recruits for active service in the AIF and conducting medical examinations of volunteers.
    Richard Gibb's two sons both enlisted for service in the AIF. Lieutenant Richard Horace Maconochie (Mac) Gibbs MC, was killed in action on 19 July 1916 at Fleurbaix, France, aged 23. 154 Corporal John Harbinger Gibbs, Administration Headquarters, died of illness at his home in Colac, Vic, on 13 October 1917, after being repatriated to Australia from England.
    Following the loss of his two sons Richard Horace Gibbs gave up his practice and devoted his work to the medical care of sick and wounded soldiers who had returned to Australia. He was gazetted a Major in the AIF and appointed Senior Surgeon at No 16 Australian General Hospital. Maj Gibbs was killed in a tram accident in Melbourne in July 1919. A large crowd including returned servicemen, lined St Kilda Road, Melbourne, to witness the funeral procession. Returned servicemen also marched in the procession."
  19. Popular Officer's Death, The Argus, (Monday, 14 July 1919), p.6.
  20. Funeral Notice: Gibbs, The Argus, (Tuesday, 15 July 1919), p.1.
  21. "Draped with a Union Jack the coffin containing the remains of the late Major R. H. Gibbs, was taken to the Spencer street railway station this afternoon for transfer to Colac, where the funeral will take place tomorrow. The gun carriage left the Caulfleld Hospital at 2 o'clock and at Alexandra avenue a number of members of the Australian Army Medical Corps attached to tho Mont Park Hospital, formed up and followed it through the streets. Major Gibbs was registrar of the hospital." (The (Melbourne) Herald, (Tuesday, 15 July 1919), p.1.)
  22. About People, The Age, (Wednesday, 16 July 1919), p.7.
  23. Personal, The Argus, (Thursday, 17 July 1919), p.4.
  24. School Speech Days: Caulfield Grammar School, The Argus, (Monday, 19 December 1910), p.9; School Speech Days: Caulfield Grammar School, The Age, (Monday, 16 December 1912), p.15.
  25. Casualties, The Colac Reformer, (Tuesday, 18 September 1917), p.2.
  26. Photograph of the team, including Gibbs and Robinson, is at Wilkinson (1997), p.54.
  27. Athletics, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 18 November 1911), p.23.).
  28. Amateur: (Annual Secondary Schools Sports) Under 16 Events: Long Jump, The QWeekly Times, (Saturday, 14 November 1908), p.21.
  29. Wilkinson (1997), p.54-57.
  30. Supplementary Medical Examinations—March 1913, The Argus, (Friday, 25 April 1913), p.5.
  31. Football, The (Adelaide) Register, (Tuesday, 11 August 1914), p.5.; Inter-State 'Varsity Football, Victoria v. South Australia: Melbourne (He is listed as "Gibb"), The (Adelaide) Critic, (Wednesday, 19 August 1914), p.13.
  32. A Colac Hero, The Warrnambool Standard, (Saturday, 30 September 1916), p.4.
  33. Roll of Service Overseas 1914–1918: Roll of the Fallen: Gibbs, Richard Horace Maconochie 1912, The University of Melbourne Record of Active Service of Teachers, Graduates, Undergraduates, Officers and Servants in the European War, 1914–1918, University of Melbourne, (Melbourne), 1926, p.15.
  34. The University Team, The (Melbourne) Leader, (Saturday, 4 May 1912), p.29.
  35. Opening of the Football Season—Essendon v. Univserity, The (Melbourne) Leader, (Saturday, 4 May 1912), p.29.
  36. Essendon in Form, The Argus, (Monday, 29 April 1912), p.11.
  37. Migration of Players, The (Melbourne) Winner, (Wednesday, 21 April 1915), p.6.
  38. Football: The League, The Argus, (Monday, 12 April 1915), p.12.
  39. "Lieut. Dick Gibb [sic], who came of age the year the war started … was one of the young meds. who left Melbourne University to take the field before the authorities stopped the exodus of the advanced students." (MEN, The Graphic of Australia, (Friday, 5 October 1917), p.9).
  40. Australian Imperial Force: Appointments, Promotions, etc.: Infantry: 59th Battalion: To be Lieutenants, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No.180, (Thursday, 7 December 1916), p.3310.
  41. Proclamations: Australian Imperial Force, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No.184, (Thursday, 14 December 1916), p.3386.
  42. Military Crosses, The Argus, (Wednesday, 27 September 1916), p.15; Footballer Wins Honor, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Thursday, 28 September 1916), p.10; "MILITARY CROSS AWARDS". The Argus. Victoria, Australia. 29 September 1916. p. 11.
  43. Notes and Events, The Colac Herald, (Wednesday, 24 January 1917), p.2.
  44. Studio portrait of 2nd Lieutenant (2nd Lt) Richard Horace Maconochie (Mac) Gibbs, 6th Battalion, of Colac, Vic., Australian War Memorial.
  45. His Military Cross is on display at the Melbourne Museum (Item NU 44591: Medal: Military Cross, George V, Great Britain, Lieutenant R.H.M. Gibbs, circa 1917).
  46. Australian Casualties: Two Lists Issued (Nos.202 & 203): Missing: Victoria, The Argus, (Friday, 1 September 1916), p.8.
  47. Prominent Footballer Missing, The (Melbourne) Winner, (Wednesday, 13 September 1916), p.8.
  48. Latest Casualty List, The Warrnambool Standard, (Saturday, 6 October 1917), p.9.
  49. Died on Service: Gibbs, The Argus, (Wednesday, 19 September 1917), p.1.

References
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