Lieutenant Richard Apjohn Fitzgibbon

Date published: 14/05/1915
Killed in action: No
Information: Lieutenant Richard Apjohn Fitzgibbon, 128th Pioneers, who was killed in the fighting on the Suez Canal, February 3rd and 4th, was the only son of Captain H. Macaulay Fitzgibbon, of Greystones, and grandson of a former Recorder of Belfast and County Court Judge of Antrim. He was born in Dublin, July, 1889, and was educated first at Strangways School and subsequently at Radley College. Whilst at Radley he twice ‘coxed ‘ the College boat at the Henley Regatta. On leaving school he entered Christ Church, Oxford, taking his degree in 1911. He was for a time cox of the Christ Church boat and subsequently stroke of their second eight. He steered in the University trial eights and was a member of Leander Rowing Club. On leaving Oxford he was appointed to the Indian Army (Unattached List)), and after serving for a year with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, he joined the 128th Pioneers (Indian Army) as a double Company Officer. He was severely wounded in the action near Ismalia on the Suez Canal on February 3rd, notwithstanding which he continued to direct his men for several hours, leading a bayonet charge in which he appears to have lost his sword. It then became necessary to transmit a very important message to the Artillery, which Lt. Fitzgibbon undertook to do, having to traverse a quarter of a mile exposed to heavy maxim and rifle fire. He delivered the message and then, for the first time, mentioned he was wounded. He succumbed to his injuries next morning on the way to the base hospital in Ismalia, where he was buried with full military honours, the General in Command of the Canal defences attending in person as a tribute of respect and gratitude for his services. Dublin people may like to know that his maternal grandfather was Surgeon John Kellock Barton, principal Surgeon to the Adelaide Hospital for many years, his maternal grandmother being a daughter of Professor Apjohn, the eminent Professor of Chemistry in Dublin University for many years.