Henry Stephen Gibbons was born to Edward and Mary née Wilson probably in 1885 at Turncroft Lane, Stockport. Edward worked in the Twine and Rope Works off Lancaster Hill, Stockport, eventually becoming a foreman.

Edward and Mary had 14 children, several dying in infancy with Edward dying in 1909.

In 1911, Henry was living with his mother and younger sisters, Ethel and Hannah at 25, Corthill Street, Stockport where he worked in the hatting trade.

His sister Ethel married Stephen Coonan, the organist at St. Joseph’s R.C. Church, Tatton Street, Stockport, in 1912. They had five children including the late Cannon Edward Coonan of the Shrewsbury R.C. Diocese, Henry’s nephew. His great-nephew is Cannon Stephen Coonan also of the Shrewsbury R.C. Diocese.

After the war Henry’s mother, Mrs, Mary Gibbons had moved to 60, Waterloo Road, Stockport.

Henry Gibbons was one of the Manchester “Pals”.

The Pals Battalions were sponsored by local patrons and started recruiting in August 1914. They allowed recruits to serve alongside their friends, neighbours and colleagues. 

The eight Manchester Pals Battalions were sponsored by the Lord Mayor and City of Manchester. They were responsible for housing, clothing and feeding the recruits until the War Office took the battalions over and the sponsors’ expenses refunded. These arrangements helped the army to expand rapidly without overwhelming the existing recruiting channels.

Henry enlisted in the 7th Manchester Pals Battalion around 21st November 1914. The recruits moved to Morecombe for training in December 1914 and to Grantham in April 1915.

The Battalion was taken over by the War Office on 8th August 1915 and incorporated at the 22nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Henry was assigned to Platoon No. “X” in “C” Company.

The 22nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment landed in France on 12th November 1915.

After further training they arrived in the Somme in February 1916 and manned the front line opposite the German held fortified village of Marmetz.

It was probably here that Henry lost his life, maybe from shellfire or a German sniper. He died on 30th March 1916.

Henry is buried at Mericourt-L'abbe Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.

Henry is also commemorated on the War Memorial in St. Joseph’s R.C Church, Tatton Street, Stockport.

Rest in Peace

1. Commonwealth War Graves Commission “Find War Dead” 2. Wikipedia contributors, 'Manchester Pals', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, June 2016 3. The Manchester Regiment 1758 – 1958, 22nd (Service) (7th City Pals) Battalion https://www.themanchesters.org/22th%20batt.htm 4. Coonan family, Notes on their uncle, Henry Stephen Gibbons, c2014. There is some ambiguity over Henry’s birth. The census records suggest that he was born around 1885. However, the only birth record shows Henry Gibbons born in Stockport in 1882 with his mother’s maiden surname as Welsh (not Wilson). There is also a record of Henry Wilson born in 1885 (without his mother’s maiden surname recorded). I wonder if a mistake was made in registering his birth in 1885. 5. The National Archives of the UK; 1891 Census, Class RG12, Piece: 2803; Folio: 77A; Page: 34; 1901 Census, Class: RG13; Piece: 3297; Folio: 75; Page: 14. 6. Free BMD Deaths Mar 1909, Gibbons, Edward, Age 61, Stockport, Vol 8a, Page 64. 7. The National Archives of the UK; 1911 Census, Class: RG14; Piece: 21371. 8. Photograph of No. X Platoon from the Coonan family. 9. Wells, Dominic “The Soldiers of St. Joseph’s Parish” 2018. 10. Thanks to the Coonan family.