Dick Gibbs
Encyclopedia
Richard Horace Maconchie "Dick" Gibbs was an Australian rules football
er who played with Melbourne University
in the Victorian Football League
.
He was educated at Caulfield Grammar School
and at the University of Melbourne
.
He enlisted during World War I
-- at the time he was a third-year medical student at Melbourne University—and was killed in his first clash with the enemy. He was posthumously awarded the Military Cross
for leading his troops over a parapet
, despite heavy German gunfire.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Melbourne University
Melbourne University Football Club
Melbourne University Football Club, often known simply as University is an Australian rules football club.The club achieved prominence by being a member of the game's most elite competition in the early 20th century, the Victorian Football League between 1908 and 1914.Although there are no records...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
He was educated at Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, Anglican, day and boarding school, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1881 as a boys' school, Caulfield began admitting girls exactly one hundred years later...
and at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
.
He enlisted during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
-- at the time he was a third-year medical student at Melbourne University—and was killed in his first clash with the enemy. He was posthumously awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for leading his troops over a parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
, despite heavy German gunfire.
Sources
- Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
- Main, J. & Allen, D., "Gibbs, Richard MC", pp. 71–72 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen — The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002.
- Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: Richard Horace Maconchie Gibbs MC
- Military Cross Awards, The Argus, (Friday 29 September 1916), p.14, col.C