Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

John Sibbald, known as Jock or Jack, was born on 29 November 1894 at Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland, the sixth son of David and Betsy (née Marshall) Sibbald, of Linlithgowshire, Scotland. David and Betsy who married in 1878 at Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland, had at least eight sons and one daughter. In 1901 young John was a scholar at home with his family at Hardhill, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland, where his father was a farmer. Eighteen-year-old John Sibbald, a farmer, departed from London on 5 December 1912 per the “Corinthic”, bound for New Zealand.

John Sibbald enlisted with the New Zealand Forces at Trentham on 16 December 1915. He was a farmer, residing at Timaru and employed by the Timaru Borough Council. Single and Presbyterian, he named his father as next-of-kin – David Sibbald, Hardhill Farm, Bathgate, Linlithgowshire, Scotland. He also named a friend (who was no relation) – Miss Ross (or Rose), 61 Bank Street, Timaru. He was a well-built young man, standing at 6 feet, weighing 168 pounds, and with a chest measurement of 37-40 inches. He had a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all good, his limbs and chest well formed, his heart and lungs normal, and his teeth fairly good. Free from illnesses, fits and diseases, and vaccinated, he was in good bodily and mental health.

John Sibbald, Timaru, was one of the South Canterbury recruits for the eleventh reinforcements (Mounted Rifles), who left Timaru for Trentham on 15 December 1915. Private J. Sibbald embarked with the 11th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington on 1 April 1916 and disembarking at Suez, Egypt, on 3 May. Having embarked at Alexandria for Marseilles on 20 May 1916 per the “Ivernia”, he was attached to Strength at Etaples, then joined his Battalion in the Field (France) on 27 June 1916. Appointed Temporary Lance Corporal on 25 November 1916, he relinquished that rank on 31 January 1917 at his own request, it was recorded. That entry was, however, cancelled and was to read deprived of Lance Corporal Stripe as punishment. On 30 January 1917 he lost his Lance Rank for threatening language to a supervisor in the field. Having lost by neglect several articles, including an oil sheet, a knife, a fork and a spoon, back on 19 December 1916, he had been charged with the cost of same – 20 shillings 3¼ pence.

He was again appointed Lance Corporal on 14 May 1917, to complete establishment. But he was awarded seven days’ field punishment and forfeited a Lance Stripe for absence from a working party without leave twice in July 1917. He rejoined his Unit in the Field on 27 September 1917 after two weeks leave in England. On 1 October 1917 he was admitted to the No. 1 New Zealand Field Ambulance, and the next day to the East Lancashire Field Ambulance. Private Sibbald re-joined his Unit from the Field Ambulance on 15 October 1917. He went again to England on leave, on 28 November 1917, re-joining his Unit in the Field three weeks later.

On 5 April 1918 he suffered a gunshot wound to the right knee and was admitted to the Canadian General Hospital. Embarking for England on 12 April, he was admitted to the No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst. He was transferred to the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch on 3 June. Casualty List No. 834 carried his name and that of his next-of-kin and word to this effect was received in Timaru. Private advice was also received by a friend (presumably Miss Ross), that Pte. J. Sibbald, who left with the 11ths, had been wounded in the right knee and admitted to hospital on April 11. The word in May was that he was progressing favourably. He was discharged to duty on 9 August. He was yet again granted the temporary rank of Lance Corporal, on 28 August 1918, whilst employed on Detention Staff. But he was reduced to Ranks on 5 December, for allowing the escape on 2 December 1918 at Hornchurch, without reasonable excuse, of a prisoner committed to his charge. Leaving Hornchurch on 10 December 1918, he was to report at Codford on 28 December.

John married Ann Catherine (Kate) Aitken on 22 April 1919 at Liberton, Edinburgh. Thereafter, she became his next-of-kin – Mrs K. Sibbald, 38 Lutton Place, Edinburgh. Did John know Kate before he left Scotland, or had they met during the war? Private J. Sibbald embarked on 28 July 1919 for return to New Zealand by the “Hororata” which was due at Wellington on or about 20 September 1919. He actually reached Timaru by the express from Christchurch on the afternoon of 22 September. The soldiers who returned were given a hearty welcome. The Deputy-Mayor “congratulated the men on their achievements, offered them the thanks of the whole community for what they had done, and wished them a speedy return to good health.” He called for cheers from the assembled crowd, and these were given with great heartiness. He was discharged on 21 October 1919, on the termination of his term of engagement. He had served for well over three years overseas, all in Western Europe, and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

The “Press” of 9 February 1917 contained the following article - The Editor of the “Weekly Press” has received from Jack Sibbold [sic], 2nd Company, 2nd Brigade, a letter dated France, November 12th, enclosing some photographs which he had found on the field, probably lost by a New Zealander. From an inscription on one of them the soldier’s Christian name was Ernest, and he has a sister Daisy. No other names appear. It is hoped this paragraph may meet the eye of some member of his family, who will apply for the photographs. The follow-up article in the “Press” of 13 February read - In Friday’s “Press”' there was a local asking for the owner of some photographs sent from France to the “Weekly Press” by Jack Sibbald, a soldier, who had found them. Yesterday morning Miss Winnie Cowles, of 105 Brougham street, Sydenham, called and identified the photographs as the property of Private Ernest Lord, of Geraldine, who went in the Seventh Reinforcements, and had written home to say that he had lost them. Miss Cowles is going to send the photographs to Private Lord’s mother at Geraldine. The finder of the photographs was surely John Sibbald of Timaru.

Kate probably came to New Zealand after John returned. Their eldest son, Ian Douglas Hart Sibbald (Douglas), was born in early 1920, possibly at sea. Two more sons, David Aitken Sibbald and George Grey Sibbald, were born in 1922 and 1925 respectively; and a daughter, Betsy Jean Sibbald, was born in 1926. Douglas, a soldier, appeared in the World War Two nominal rolls. David trained in Canada and served in the air force in World War Two with distinction. George was drawn in the World War Two ballots. In 1951, Betsy visited Scotland. After the war, Jack Sibbald headed for Marshlands near Christchurch, where he farmed, and he and his wife soon became involved in the community. As of June 1926, Mr J. Sibbald was a member of the Marshland Hall Committee. In the same month he won the men’s first prize at the Marshland euchre evening, a prize which he was to win regularly. Mrs Sibbald was the collector for Poppy Day at Marshland in 1931, and often contributed to entertainment. The family moved to Amberley in the 1930s.

John Sibbald died on 20 November 1952 at Christchurch, aged 57 years 11 months. He was buried at Balcairn Cemetery in North Canterbury. He was survived by Catherine, three sons (Douglas, David and George) and one daughter (Betsy), and five grandchildren. Dying on 10 April 1978, his wife Ann Catherine Sibbald was buried with him. John died intestate, administration of his estate being granted to his widow with the consent of their four children who were all living at Amberley. When their youngest son, George Grey Sibbald, died unmarried in 1988, he made bequests to St Andew’s Presbyterian Church, Amberley, and the St John Ambulance Association, North Canterbury. He was the dear brother of his two elder brothers and his sister who had herself been widowed in 1973. John’s only sister, Helen Walkenshaw Sibbald, had come to New Zealand after her marriage and had two sons here – Archibald David Sibbald Torrance and Ernest James Torrance, both of whom were called up for service in World War Two. An older brother of John Sibbald, George Marshall Sibbald, served in World War One with the British Forces and died in Cumberland, England, in 1958.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [11 January 2017]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives ref. AABK 18805 W5553 0104485) [19 May 2017]; Timaru Herald, 9 December 1915, 20, 22 & 29 April 1918, 30 May 1918, 20 June 1918, 28 August 1919, 23 September 1919, Press, 9 & 13 February 1917, 22 April 1918, 27 August 1919, 5 & 15 June 1926, 9 August 1927, 27 April 1931, 7 July 1947, 21 November 1952, 23 September 1966, 6 August 1969, 5 & 6 December 1973, 11 April 1978, 20 October 1988, 30 November 1988, Star, 20 April 1918, 26 August 1919, Otago Daily Times, 22 April 1918, NZ Times, 22 April 1918, Otago Witness, 24 April 1918 (Papers Past) [11 January 2017; 09 April 2022; 01, 02 & 03 August 2023]; Balcairn Cemetery headstone transcription & burial records [12 January 2017]; Balcairn Cemetery headstone transcription & burial records (Hurunui District Council) [03 August 2023]; NZ Electoral Roll (ancestry.com.au) [12 January 2017; 02 August 2023]; Probate record (Archives NZ/FamilySearch) [12 January 2017]; 1901 Scotland census return (ancestry.com.au) [12 January 2021]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

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