Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC has had his latest “hero of the month” article published in Britain at War, the country’s best-selling military history monthly magazine.
The May issue of the magazine has four pages on the life and career of Wing Commander Robert “Bobby” Gibbes, DSO, DFC & Bar, OAM, a courageous and decorated fighter pilot from the Second World War.
Gibbes, who was born in New South Wales, Australia, in May 1916, had started paying for private flying lessons before enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force in February 1940.
He deliberately failed his bomber training because he wanted to be a fighter pilot. It paid off and he was transferred to fighters and then commissioned as a pilot officer in June 1940.
Gibbes was decorated for a series of daring exploits including landing in the Western Desert in order to rescue a fellow pilot whose plane had been shot down. Gibbes got the stricken airman to sit in his single-seat, ditched his own parachute to create more space and then sat on the man’s lap before taking off. For this bravery, he was recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC) but, in fact, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).
Gibbes’ final “kill” in January 1943 meant he was officially credited with more than ten “victories”. He later met his future wife when being treated in hospital after another crash-landing. He retired in the rank of wing commander and eventually died in hospital in Sydney, Australia, in April 2007, aged 90.
Lord Ashcroft’s articles for Britain at War for the past 12 years have often been based on excerpts from his seven books on gallantry: Victoria Cross Heroes, Special Forces Heroes, George Cross Heroes, Heroes of the Skies, Special Ops Heroes, Victoria Cross Heroes Volume II and Falklands War Heroes.
Lord Ashcroft is a military historian who has lectured extensively on courage and his various medal collections.
- Lord Ashcroft’s latest article appears in the May issue of Britain at War which is on sale now.
