Soldier proud to serve his country
The Royal Bermuda Regiment bid farewell to Corporal Ricardo Gibbs on Saturday with a military ceremony at the New Testament Church of God in Hamilton.
Mr Gibbs, who served with the RBR for more than 20 years, died in a bike crash on Harbour Road on January 16, aged 40.
His sister, Sanya Gibbs, 38, told mourners: “He was a proud soldier and he took pride in serving his country.
“He was humble, always smiling and never had anything harsh to say about anybody.”
She told Mr Gibbs’s three children: “He always made sure he called you guys. He showed up. You guys really made him proud.”
Lieutenant-Colonel David Curley, RBR commanding officer, said Mr Gibbs had spent most of his RBR career in the Regimental Police, which is responsible for discipline, security and also plays a major role in ceremonial duties.
He said: “Like many of us who have served our country in the Royal Bermuda Regiment, Corporal Gibbs found a place of belonging, a place of purpose and a place of pride in the regiment.
“Like no other organisation in Bermuda, we draw strength from our diversity.
“In the Royal Bermuda Regiment, our soldiers’ country of origin, religion, economic or educational status, their sexual orientation and their lived experience foster a shared respect and mutual understanding across our ranks.
“We get along and we are family.” Colonel Curley added: “Corporal Gibbs was all we could hope for in a soldier.
“He was a man who embodied the values and standards of our regiment. Selfless commitment, courage, discipline, integrity, loyalty and respect for others.
“Corporal Ricardo Gibbs did his job, he did it well, he did it with pride and a smile and also with respect and love.”
Mr Gibbs’s coffin was taken to the Dundonald Street church on an RBR gun carriage and was carried by fellow soldiers.
The cortege was led to St John’s churchyard in Pembroke by the Regiment’s Band and Corps of Drums, escorted by an honour guard.
Mr Gibbs was born in Jamaica, but moved to Bermuda as a child. He served in the Junior Leaders for more than two years before he joined the RBR just after he reached the age of 18.
He was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee medals during his career in the regiment, and assisted with hurricane recovery efforts in Bermuda and Grenada.
