Last year we covered the lives of a number of soldiers who fought and died in the First World War. This research helped tell the stories of the families behind the names on various war memorials within our Cluster. During this research, a number of other soldiers were earmarked as potential candidates for future research. One such individual was a man called Chancellor Gibson, a Presbyterian who attended St Malachy’s College and fought and died in the trenches of WW1. While conducting research in to Chancellor’s life, our archivist found extensive records surrounding his military career. However, he also uncovered a common pitfall that lies in wait for those researching family history and genealogy: The tradition of using and reusing forenames across generations. There was indeed a Chancellor Gibson who attended St Malachy’s, but it was the cousin of the Chancellor Gibson who fought and died in France.

There are times when we are reminded that Belfast is quite a small place when compared to other major cities. It is often something that set the city apart, that families were so close knit and often were only separated by a number of houses or a handful of streets. The Gibson family are a great example of this, with members of the family living on Agnes Street, Percy Street, Northumberland Street and the Antrim Road, and maintaining a sizeable presence in the city for generations. Whilst concluding this research, the enrolment form of another member of the Gibson family- Henry M D Gibson, who also served during the First World War as a member of the Royal Engineers, caught my eye. On Henry’s enrolment form, the name of the witness is William Condell, whose story we told last year. It never ceases to amaze me seeing how separate stories in Belfast intertwine, as historical friendships and relationships are born out of happenstance and “being the next house over”.

The Gibson Family appear to have had a significant presence in West and North Belfast especially, with many branches of the family living just streets apart around the Crumlin and Antrim roads. What began as a story of one individual quickly became the story of many, each with their own aspirations, who forged their own path through life.

Chancellor Gibson (1888-1916)

Our first Chancellor was born on the 21^st May 1888 to John and Jane Gibson. Chancellor was the youngest of four children: David (1881), Jane (1884) and William (1886). Chancellor’s father was a clerk with the British Steamship Company, however, he died in 1891 while en route to San Francisco. The eldest son, David would follow in his fathers footsteps and take to the seas. A 1903 ship staff list records David starting a job aboard the White Star Liner RMS Majestic.

Not much is known about Chancellor’s early childhood. After his fathers death the family lived in Harrybrook Street in 1901, before later moving to Agnes in 1911. For many of these individuals who went off to fight in WW1, little information remains about their early lives. Instead, most of what we can discover comes after their acceptance into the military. For Chancellor, his records are comprehensive and largely intact. At the time he signed up, he was working as an engineer in Partick, Glasgow, and whilst no pictures of him remain, the enlistment form gives a detailed description of a 26 year old, standing 5 foot 4 weighing 8st 11lbs, who had dark brown hair, hazel eyes and a tattoo of a heart with the words “Eren”.

In keeping with his occupation, Chancellor would find himself part of the Royal Engineers as a Sapper. Sapper’s were tasked with a variety of roles during the First World War, including building trenches and fortifications, as well as maintaining communications networks. When he was deployed in France, his company of Engineers were attached to a division that found themselves fighting near Wulverghem in Belgium. It was also the site of a number of significant gas attacks initiated by the German Forces. It was one such attack that would fatally wound Chancellor.

On the 16th June 1916, the 103rd Field Company, Royal Engineers were stationed at Dranoutre, near Wulverghem. At 6.20pm a Gas Alert was ordered. During the night, a cloud of phosgene gas was released from the German trenches and flowed across No-Man’s Land before filling the allied trenches. This gas was incredibly potent and yellow-green in colour. As the phosgene gas was denser than air, it also completely filled the frontline trenches. Due to previous gas attacks, soldiers had been provided rudimentary Gas Masks called PH Helmets. Although the alert was given, casualties were still high due to the concentration and potency of the gas. The 103^rd Field Company reported:

“Casualties No. 3 section. Sgt Cauthon Killed. 1 O.R Killed. 8. O.R Wounded.”

It is likely that the 1 O.R (Other Rank) killed was Chancellor Gibson. His records show that he died on the 17^th June 1916, in the 73^rd Field Hospital, which is shown on the map below, where he likely succumbed to the effects of the toxic gas. He was buried in Danoutre and is now remembered in the Military Cemetery there.

In his will, he left everything he had to his mother Jane, who still lived in Agnes Street. His older brother David was noted as also being deployed, with later records showing he was ‘at sea’.

Chancellor Gibson (1894-1945)

With just 6 years between the two Chancellor’s, there is perhaps little surprise that there was  initial confusion. This Chancellor Gibson was the Nephew of Jane Gibson (Mother), and son of Josias Chancellor Gibson; a painter who lived on Ardmoulin Avenue. Josias (who also went by Chancellor) died young in 1898, after contracting Rheumatic Fever and dying at only 32 years old.

Chancellor must have shown significant promise with his studies, as he would go on to be listed as a ‘chemistry student’ in the 1911 census. It was at this time that he moved in with his Aunt Jane in Agnes Street. Having two Chancellors under the one roof must have been the source of significant confusion! During this time, it is likely that he was attending St Malachy’s at this time, given the close location to the family home. This is noteworthy as he was a Presbyterian attending a Catholic diocesan college in Belfast. It demonstrates that there are always individuals within history and society that subvert the expected norm, and forge their own path regardless of expectations. Chancellor thrived in his studies and was proudly recognised in newspapers in 1915, as he was noted as passing the “Preliminary Examination of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland”… he was on his way to becoming a pharmaceutical chemist.

Because much of Chancellor’s life still falls within “living memory” (the 100 year data protection bracket), we are unable to find out much information about his life after he left St Malachy’s, however, his death certificate notes he died of a heart attack in 1945, aged 50. Incidentally, at the time he was living on the Ravenhill Road, not far from his cousin and namesakes place of birth.

About the archivist:

James Cromey is the Archive Coordinator for the North Belfast Heritage Cluster. He has a background in Victorian, Industrial and Medical History and has received degrees from the University of Glasgow and Queens University Belfast. All research has been conducted to a high academic standard and has been fully referenced. If you would like to know more about a story or piece of research, or if you wish to tell us about your own story, email us at: archiveproject@nbheritagecluster.org