Bill Kibby

He led repeated assaults and fought on despite severe wounds

William Henry Kibby was born at Winlaton, County Durham, in 1903. His family migrated to South Australia in 1914. He became a plasterer, married Mabel Morgan in 1926 and had two daughters. Alongside his civilian work he served in the militia's 48th Field Battery before joining the Second Australian Imperial Force in June 1940.

Posted to the 2/48th Battalion, Kibby became a sergeant before sailing for the Middle East. A leg fracture sustained in Palestine at the end of 1940 caused a long period of hospital treatment and rehabilitation. He rejoined his battalion in Syria in February 1942 and subsequently served in Egypt, including the fighting at El Alamein.

During the Second Battleof El Alamein, from 23 to 31 October 1942, Kibby repeatedly led his platoon in dangerous assaults. When its commander was killed on 23 October, he took charge. At an enemy machine-gun position that was holding up the advance, he went forward alone, killed several defenders and took prisoners.

Despite wounds and heavy fire, he continued encouraging his men and bringing ammunition forward. On 30 October he moved through enemy fire to re-establish communication with his company. The next night he again attacked a machine-gun position, throwing grenades at close range. He was killed during this final assault.

His Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously for sustained courage, tenacity and leadership over the several days of fighting. He was buried in El Alamein War Cemetery. His other awards were the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 8th Army clasp, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australia Service Medal.

Official Victoria Cross citation

During the initial attack at Miteiriya Ridge on the 23rd October, 1942, the Commander of No. 17 Platoon, to which Sergeant Kibby belonged, was killed. No sooner had Sergeant Kibby assumed command, than his Platoon was ordered to attack strong enemy positions holding up the advance of his Company. Sergeant Kibby immediately realised the necessity for quick decisive action, and without thought for his personal safety he dashed forward towards the enemy posts firing his Tommy-gun. This rapid and courageous individual action resulted in the complete silencing of the enemy fire, by the killing of three of the enemy and the capture of twelve others. With these posts silenced, his Company was then able to continue the advance. After the capture of TRIG 29 on the 26th October, intense enemy artillery concentrations were directed on the battalion area, which were invariably followed with counter-attacks by tanks and infantry. Throughout the attack that culminated in the capture of TRIG 29 and the re-organisation period which followed, Sergeant Kibby moved from section to section personally directing their fire and cheering the men, despite the fact that the Platoon throughout was suffering heavy casualties. Several times, when under intense machine-gun fire, he went out and mended the platoon line communications, thus allowing mortar concentrations to be directed effectively against the attacks on his Company’s front. His whole demeanour during this difficult phase in the operations was an inspiration to his Platoon. On the night of the 30th-31st October when the Battalion attacked “ring contour” 25, behind the enemy lines, it was necessary for No. 17 Platoon to move through the most withering enemy machine-gun fire in order to reach its objective. These conditions did not deter Sergeant Kibby from pressing forward right to the objective, despite his Platoon being mown down by machine-gun fire from point blank range. One pocket of resistance still remained and Sergeant Kibby went forward alone throwing grenades to destroy the enemy now only a few yards distant. Just as success appeared certain, he was killed by a burst of machine-gun fire. Such outstanding courage, tenacity of purpose and devotion to duty was entirely responsible for the successful capture of the Company’s objective. His work was an inspiration to all and he left behind him an example and the memory of a soldier who fearlessly and unselfishly fought to the end to carry out his duty.

Supplement to The London Gazette of 26 January 1943. 28 January 1943, Numb. 35879, p. 523