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Pte. James Edward George Gibaud
British Army Rifle Brigade
from:4 Fotheringham Road, Enfield
My grandfather, James Gibaud, was born 4th Jun 1894 at 81 Packington Street, Islington, London. He was a fancy leather goods apprentice working for his father's business at age 16. The family home prior to WW1 was 4 Fotheringham Road, Enfield, London. He is pictured riding a Douglas Model E motorcycle which was manufactured ca. 1911, which is why it is assumed he will have been age 16 or 17. Perhaps the photo was taken nearer to 1915, as he is wearing an armband on his right arm that has the King's Crown on it. He also has what appears to be an army badge on his left collar, but the image is not clear enough to confirm what it may be. The armband has been seen before in old footage during WW1 where men are enlisting and some people are wearing the same, but the significance of this armband is unknown.
We believe that he joined up with the Rifle Brigade on 30th of July 1915. His surname has varied several times as Gibane and Giband. There was a family story indicating that a family member may have been a sniper during the war, could this have been him? He boxed for the army and continued to box for a while after leaving the army. I have an image of him sitting proudly next to a couple of trophies. One trophy is a large shield which appears to be Clacton Gymnasium, but that has never been confirmed. Apart from the British Army Medal Rolls Cards, no other military records can be found for my grandfather. I would dearly love to find out more if possible and also hope to find an image of him whilst in his army uniform.
