Gabbey, James
Private
No. 27524, 9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Killed in action on Sunday 20 October 1918 (aged 27)
Buried:
Harlebeke New British Cemetery, Belgium (Grave VIII. D. 4)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Comber and District War Memorial
Second Comber Presbyterian Church
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour
BIOGRAPHY
James Gabbey was born on 27 August 1890 at 18 Mackay Street, Belfast and he was a son of James and Sarah Jane Gabbey (nee English) who were married on 16 December 1887 in Dundonald Presbyterian Church. James Gabbey who was living in Belfast was a son of John Gabbey, a labourer. Sarah Jane English who was living in Comber was a daughter of James English, a labourer.
James Gabbey Junior was born during the time that his parents were living in Belfast. Both of his parents were born in Comber and in the 1890s they returned to Comber where they lived at 27 Railway Street.
James Gabbey Senior had problems with his eyes and he worked as a gardener and labourer.
James and Sarah Gabbey had at least six children:
John (born 12 November 1888 at 18 Mackay Street, Belfast)
James (born 27 August 1890 at 18 Mackay Street, Belfast)
Mary A (born 24 September 1892 in Belfast)
Hugh (born 8.00 pm 20 May 1895 in Railway Street, Comber; died of croup 23 February 1899)
Elizabeth Margaret Cunningham (Lizzie, born 9.00 pm 20 May 1895 in Railway Street, Comber)
Sarah Jane (born 19 November 1898 in Railway Street, Comber)
Their mother, Sarah Jane, died of placenta previa on 31 December 1904 (aged 37)
Prior to the outbreak of the Great War James Gabbey Junior was unemployed and he enlisted in Newtownards.
Private James Gabbey (No. 27524) was wounded in action in July 1917 but he recovered sufficiently to return to the Front. He served with the 9th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 109th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and was 27 when he was killed in action on 20 October 1918. He was buried in Harlebeke New British Cemetery, Belgium.
Private James Gabbey(No. 27524) is commemorated on Comber and District War Memorial; in Second Comber Presbyterian Church and in the Belfast Book of Honour (Page 205).