McKibbin, Hamilton (served as McKibben, Hamilton)
Rifleman
No. 25772, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Died of disease on Tuesday 16 December 1919 (aged 19)
Buried:
Basra War Cemetery, Iraq (Grave II. G. 1)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Second Newtownards Presbyterian Church
BIOGRAPHY
In the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Debt of Honour Website and in some other records his surname is spelt McKibben.
Hamilton McKibbin was born on 7 May 1900 in the family home at 26 Mark Street, Newtownards and he was a son of Hamilton McKibbin and Maggie McKibbin (nee McManus, sometimes McManuss,) who were married on 31 January 1895 in Second Newtownards Presbyterian Church. Hamilton McKibbin from Newtownards was a son of Hamilton McKibbin, a labourer. Maggie McManus from Newtownards was a daughter of David McManus, a mason.
The McKibbin family lived at 26 Mark Street, Newtownards
Hamilton McKibbin Senior worked as a labourer before joining the Army. He served in South Africa and, while he was away, Maggie worked as a washerwoman.
Hamilton and Maggie McKibbin had at least seven children:
Ellen (born 5 July 1895 in Mark Street, Newtownards)
Agnes (born 13 January 1897 in Mark Street, Newtownards)
David (born 11 September 1898 in Mark Street, Newtownards)
Hamilton (born 7 May 1900 at 26 Mark Street, Newtownards)
Hugh (born 10 December 1902 in Mark Street, Newtownards)
Thomas Baxter (born 29 August 1904 in Mark Street, Newtownards)
Margaret (born 6 May 1906 in Mark Street, Newtownards)
During the Great War Hamilton McKibbin Senior served with the 7th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (No. 19926) before being transferred to the Labour Corps (No. 606504) and he was discharged from the Army on 10 March 1919 – some nine months before his son died.
Hamilton McKibbin Junior served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles and he was 19 when he died of pneumonia on 16 December 1919 in the General Hospital, Basra, Iraq. His mother Margaret was his sole legatee.
Rifleman Hamilton McKibbin (No. 25772) was buried in Basra War Cemetery, Iraq and he is commemorated in Second Newtownards Presbyterian Church.