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Bill Kibby

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Bill Kibby
Kibbyc. 1941
Born(1903-04-15)15 April 1903
Winlaton,County Durham, England
Died31 October 1942(1942-10-31)(aged 39)
El Alamein,Egypt
Buried
El Alamein War Cemetery
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchAustralian Army
Years of service1936–1942
RankSergeant
Unit2/48th Infantry Battalion
Battles/wars
AwardsVictoria Cross

William Henry Kibby,VC(15 April 1903 – 31 October 1942) was a British-bornAustralian recipientof theVictoria Cross,the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that could be awarded to a member of theAustralian armed forcesat the time. Kibby emigrated toSouth Australiawith his parents in early 1914 and worked as an interior decorator and served in the part-timeMilitiaprior to World WarII. In 1940, he enlisted in the all-volunteerSecond Australian Imperial Forceand joined the2/48th Infantry Battalion.His unit was sent to the Middle East, but soon after arriving, Kibby broke his leg and spent the next year recovering and undergoing further training while hisbattaliontook part in theNorth African campaign.He rejoined his unit when it was serving on garrison duties in northern Syria after its involvement in thesiege of Tobruk,but in June 1942 it was sent to Egypt and recommitted to the North Africa campaign. Kibby was with the battalion during theFirst Battle of El Alameinin July.

In October, the 2/48th Battalion was committed to theSecond Battle of El Alamein,during which Kibby undertook a series of courageous actions across the period from 23 to 31 October. In the first episode, he went forward alone and silenced an enemy machine-gun post. In the second, he provided inspirational leadership to hisplatoonand mended its telephone line under heavy fire. On the final occasion, he pressed forward under withering fire and helped hiscompanycapture its objective. This final action ultimately cost him his life. He was then posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. A memorial trust used donated money to purchase a house for his widow and two daughters. His medal set is displayed at theAustralian War Memorialin the Hall of Valour.

Early life

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William Henry Kibby was born atWinlaton,County Durham,United Kingdom, on 15 April 1903. The second of three children, Kibby was born to John Robert Kibby, adraper's assistant, and Mary Isabella KibbynéeBirnie. He had two sisters. In early 1914, the Kibby family emigrated toAdelaide,South Australia. Bill attendedMitcham Public Schooland then held various jobs before securing a position at the Perfection Fibrous Plaster Works inEdwardstown.There, he worked as an interior decorator, designing and fixing plaster decorations. He married Mabel Sarah Bidmead Morgan in 1926; they lived at Helmsdale (nowGlenelg East) and had two daughters,[1][2]Clariss and Jacqueline.[3]

Kibby stood only 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) tall, but was a strong man and enjoyed outdoor activities. He joined thescouting movement,as an assistant scoutmaster of the 2nd Glenelg Sea Scouts where he crewed theirlifeboat.He enjoyed family walks and picnics and was a keen golfer, playing on various public courses. He was also a talented artist, painting and drawing in addition to his plaster design work, and even briefly attended art classes at theSchool of Mines and Industries.[1]He was described as a quiet and sincere man who loved gardening.[4]In 1936, he joined the part-timeMilitiaand was posted to the48th Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery.Along with his Militia service, he enjoyed participating inmilitary tattoos.[1]

World War II

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On 29 June 1940, Kibby enlisted in the all-volunteerSecond Australian Imperial Force,which had been raised for overseas service in World WarII. He was posted to the2/48th Infantry Battalion,[1]part of the26th Brigade.This brigade was initially assigned to the7th Division.[5]On 14 September, when thebattalionwas training in South Australia, Kibby was promoted to actingcorporal,and this was followed by promotion to actingsergeanta month later. The 2/48th embarked on the troopshipHMTStrathedenon 17 November and sailed for theMiddle East,where it disembarked inPalestineon 17 December.[6]On New Year's Eve, Kibby fell into aslit trenchand broke his leg. He then spent months convalescing. During his recovery, he produced at least forty watercolours and pencil drawings, which, according to his biographer,Bill Gammage,displayed "a fondness for Palestine's countryside and a feeling for its people".[1]While in Palestine, Kibby struck up a friendship with the painterEsmond George,and occasionally accompanied him on sketching trips.[7]After recovering, Kibby joined the brigade training battalion in August 1941 and also attended the infantry school to complete a weapons course.[8]He rejoined the 2/48th in February 1942,[1]the 26th Brigade having been transferred to the9th Divisiona year earlier.[9]At the time, the battalion was undertaking garrison duties in northern Syria, after participating in thesiege of Tobruk.[1]

During early 1942, theAxisforces had advanced steadily through northwest Egypt. It was decided that theBritish Eighth Armyshould make a stand just over 100 kilometres (62 mi) west ofAlexandria,at the railway siding ofEl Alamein,where the coastal plain narrowed between theMediterranean Seaand the inhospitableQattara Depression.[10]On 26 June 1942, the 9th Division was ordered to begin moving from northern Syria to El Alamein.[11]On 1July,GeneralfeldmarschallErwin Rommel's forces made a major attack, hoping to dislodge the Allies from the area, take Alexandria, and open the way toCairoand theSuez Canal.This attack resulted in theFirst Battle of El Alamein.The Eighth Army had regrouped sufficiently to repel the Axis forces and launchcounter-attacks.On 6July, the lead elements of the 9th Division arrived at Tel el Shammama 22 miles (35 km) from the front,[12]from where they would be committed to the fighting in the northern sector.[13]

Jubilee 150 Walkwayplaque commemorating highly decorated World WarII soldiers from South Australia

Before dawn on 10 July, as Rommel focused his efforts on the southern flank of the battlefield, the 9th Division attacked the north flank of the enemy positions and captured the strategic high ground around Tel el Eisa. In the days following, Rommel redirected his forces against them, in a series of intense counter-attacks, but was unable to dislodge the Australians.[14]On 22 July, the24thand 26th Brigades attacked German positions on the ridges south of Tel el Eisa, suffering heavy casualties but taking positions on Makh Khad Ridge and Tel el Eisa itself.[15]

At theSecond Battle of El Alamein,from 23 to 31 October 1942, Kibby distinguished himself through his skill in leading hisplatoon,after its commander had been killed, during the first attack at Miteiriya Ridge. On 23 October, he charged a machine‑gun position, firing at it with hisThompson submachine gun;Kibby killed three enemy soldiers, captured twelve others and took the position. Hiscompanycommander intended to recommend him for theDistinguished Conduct Medalafter this action, but was killed.[1]During the following days, Kibby moved among his men directing fire and cheering them on. He mended his platoon's telephone line several times under intense fire, restoring communications with the battalionmortarsand enabling them to bring down fire on the attacking enemy. During 30–31 October, the platoon came under heavy machine‑gun and mortar fire. Most of the members of the platoon were killed or wounded, and by the time the battle was over the total fighting strength of the battalion was down to 213 men from an establishment strength of 910. At one point before midnight on 31 October, in order to achieve his company's objective, Kibby moved forward alone, to within a few metres of the enemy, throwing grenades. Just as his success in this endeavour appeared decisive, he was killed. By the morning, the 2/48th consisted of fewer than 50 unwounded men. The posts captured by the 2/48th that night were lost to the enemy, who buried Kibby with other dead in a common grave. Later, when the area was retaken by Australian troops, the men of his unit searched for ten days, found the grave and reburied the men individually.[16][17][18][19][20]

Kibby was subsequently recommended for the posthumous award of theVictoria Cross,the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that could be awarded to anAustralian armed forcesmember at the time.[21]The citation was partly based on a note found in the pocket of his dead company commander.[16]The award was listed in theLondon Gazetteon 28 January 1943, and the citation read:[21][22]

a bronze Cross pattée suspended from a crimson ribbon
The Victoria Cross

During the initial attack at Miteiriya Ridge on the 23rd October, 1942, the Commander of No.17 Platoon, to which Sergeant Kibby belonged, was killed. No sooner had Sergeant Kibby assumed command, than his Platoon was ordered to attack strong enemy positions holding up the advance of his Company. Sergeant Kibby immediately realised the necessity for quick decisive action, and without thought for his personal safety he dashed forward towards the enemy posts firing his Tommy-gun. This rapid and courageous individual action resulted in the complete silencing of the enemy fire, by the killing of three of the enemy and the capture of twelve others. With these posts silenced, his Company was then able to continue the advance.

After the capture of TRIG 29 on 26 October, intense enemy artillery concentrations were directed on the battalion area, which were invariably followed with counter-attacks by tanks and infantry. Throughout the attack that culminated in the capture of TRIG 29 and the re-organisation period which followed, Sergeant Kibby moved from section to section personally directing their fire and cheering the men, despite the fact that the Platoon throughout was suffering heavy casualties. Several times, while under intense machine‑gun fire, he went out and mended the platoon line communications, thus allowing mortar concentrations to be directed effectively against the attacks on his Company's front. His whole demeanour during this difficult phase in the operations was an inspiration to his Platoon.

On the night of 30–31 October when the Battalion attacked "ring contour" 25 behind the enemy lines, it was necessary for No.17 Platoon to move through withering fire in order to reach its objective. These conditions did not deter Sergeant Kibby from pressing forward right to the objective, despite his platoon's being mown down by machine-gun fire frompoint-blank range.One pocket of resistance still remained and Sergeant Kibby went forward alone throwing grenades to destroy the enemy now only a few yards distant. Just as success appeared certain, he was killed by a burst of machine gunfire. Such outstanding courage, tenacity of purpose and devotion to duty was entirely responsible for the successful capture of the Company's objective. His work was an inspiration to all and he left behind an example and the memory of a soldier who fearlessly and unselfishly fought to the end to carry out his duty.

— The London Gazette26 January 1943

George was invalided back to Adelaide early in 1943 and was able to pass on to Mabel Kibby some of her husband's works.[7]TheGovernor-General of Australia,Baron Gowrie,himself a recipient of the VC, presented Kibby's award to Mabel Kibby on 27 November 1943.[23]

Grave of Bill Kibby at the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery, El Alamein, Egypt

Postscript

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In January 1944, Kibby's remains were re-interred in the El Alamein War Cemetery maintained by theCommonwealth War Graves Commission.[1]In the same year, a memorial trust was established and raisedA£1,001, which was used to purchase a house on Third Avenue, Helmsdale, for Mabel and their daughters.[24]Along with the Victoria Cross, Kibby was also entitled to the1939–1945 Star,Africa Starwith 8th Army clasp,Defence Medal,War Medal 1939–1945andAustralia Service Medal 1939–1945.[25]Later, Mabel donated his medal set to theAustralian War Memorial;it is on display in the Hall of Valour.[23][26]In 1947, Kibby's father John metField MarshalBernard Montgomery,who had commanded the Allied forces during the Second Battle of El Alamein, when he visited Adelaide.[27]In 1956, the soldiers'messatWoodside Barracksin theAdelaide Hillswas named for Kibby.[1][28]In 1996, a rest area on theFederal HighwaynearYarra, New South Waleswas named after him.[29]There are a Kibby Avenue and Kibby Reserve in an area ofGlenelg Northdevoted to South Australian Victoria Cross andGeorge Crossrecipients.[30]Aveteran's shedand a street inLoxtonare also named after Kibby.[3]

Footnotes

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  1. ^abcdefghijGammage 2000.
  2. ^The Mail12 June 1943.
  3. ^abMadden 2018,p. 369.
  4. ^Blanch & Pegram 2018,p. 379.
  5. ^Morgan 2018,pp. 21–22.
  6. ^National Archives 2019,p. 12.
  7. ^abThe Advertiser11 February 1943.
  8. ^National Archives 2019,p. 13.
  9. ^Johnston 2005,pp. 2–3.
  10. ^Maughan 1966,p. 542.
  11. ^Johnston 2002,p. 72.
  12. ^Johnston 2002,p. 73.
  13. ^Australian War Memorial 2019a.
  14. ^Maughan 1966,pp. 558–562.
  15. ^Johnston 2002,p. 87.
  16. ^abWigmore & Harding 1986,pp. 157–158.
  17. ^Staunton 2005,p. 219.
  18. ^Blanch & Pegram 2018,pp. 378–379.
  19. ^Kuring 2004,p. 47.
  20. ^Brazier 2010,pp. 319–320.
  21. ^abThe London Gazette28 January 1943.
  22. ^Blanch & Pegram 2018,p. 377.
  23. ^abBest 2018,p. 135.
  24. ^The Advertiser15 January 1945.
  25. ^National Archives 2019,p. 9.
  26. ^Australian War Memorial 2019b.
  27. ^The Mail12 July 1947.
  28. ^National Archives 2019,p. 10.
  29. ^Monument Australia 2020.
  30. ^Holdfast Bay 2023.

References

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Books

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  • Best, Brian (2018).The Desert VCs: Extraordinary Valour in the North African Campaign in WWII.Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Frontline Books.ISBN978-1-5267-2109-9.
  • Blanch, Craig; Pegram, Aaron (2018).For Valour: Australians Awarded the Victoria Cross.Sydney, New South Wales: NewSouth Publishing.ISBN978-1-74223-542-4.
  • Brazier, Kevin (2010).The Complete Victoria Cross.Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Military.ISBN978-1-84884-150-5.
  • Johnston, Mark(2002).That Magnificent 9th: An Illustrated History of the 9th Australian Division 1940–46.Sydney, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.ISBN978-1-86508-654-5.
  • Johnston, Mark (2005).The Silent 7th: An Illustrated History of the 7th Australian Division 1940–46.Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.ISBN1-74114-191-5.
  • Kuring, Ian (2004).Redcoats to Cams: A History of Australian Infantry 1788–2001.Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military History Publications.ISBN978-1-876439-99-6.
  • Madden, Michael (2018).The Victoria Cross, Australia Remembers.Melbourne, Victoria: Big Sky Publishing.ISBN978-1-925520-98-9.
  • Maughan, Barton (1966).Tobruk to El Alamein.Australia in the War of 1939–1945,Series 1—Army. Volume III (1st ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial.OCLC954993.
  • Staunton, Anthony (2005).Victoria Cross: Australia's Finest and the Battles they Fought.Prahran, Victoria: Hardie Grant.ISBN978-1-74273-486-6.
  • Wigmore, Lionel;Harding, Bruce A. (1986). Williams, Jeff; Staunton, Anthony (eds.).They Dared Mightily(2nd ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial.ISBN978-0-642-99471-4.

News, journals and gazettes

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Websites

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