Born in Scotland on 29.8.1879, at the time of his enlistment George Caldwell Gibson was employed as a commercial traveller working for Robert Hall of Wellington. He enlisted as a corporal with F Coy, 30th Reinforcements, and posted to 2nd Battalion Otago Regiment, he was briefly promoted to the rank of sergeant but in January 1918 reverted to the ranks as a private having failed to qualify for the promotion. George Gibson embarked from Wellington on troopship 93 on 13th October 1917, and marched into Sling Camp in December 1917. In February 1918 he left for France where he joined the 4th Coy. 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment. In September that year he was admitted to hospital suffering from tonsilitis. Private Caldwell remained in service until May 1919 when he left for New Zealand aboard SS Tahiti. He was discharged on 3rd August 1919 having served overseas for 1 year 267 days.

Following George Gibson’s death in 1952 his widow presented his medals, RSA badge, and Certificate of Service together with a portrait photograph and a war diary. She told us that her husband never spoke about his wartime experiences and she had not previously known about the diary.