William was educated at Ipswich Grammar School, at Edinburgh University, at the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, at London University, and at Vienna - qualifying M.B., C.M. in 1895. In 1898, he joined the University Coy of the 1st V.B. Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers, serving for four years in the ranks, and later becoming Lieutenant in the Harwich Infantry Brigade Bearer Company, R.A.M.C. In 1900 he qualified M.D., and became House Surgeon at the Royal Infirmary and Skin Dispensary, Edinburgh; Gloucester Royal Infirmary and Eye Institution, and Noble Hospital, Douglas, Isle of Man. He was also Clinical Assistant to the Ear, Throat and Nose Hospital, Golden Square, and the Children's Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London. He then took up practice in Ipswich about 1900 and became Assistant Hon. Surgeon to the Ipswich and Suffolk Hospital and Public Vaccinator for Ipswich Union. William gained a commission in the R.A.M.C. (T.F.) at the rank of Lieutenant in April 1902. On 16th July 1912, he was transferred to the 6th (Cyclist) Bn, Suffolk Regiment as their Medical Officer. He was promoted to Major on 3rd December 1913. During this time, William had also became a member of the Red Cross Council of the County of Suffolk and the Scout Council, and District St John Ambulance Brigade, as well as a lecturer to the St John Ambulance Association. At the outbreak of war, he joined the East Anglian Casualty Clearing Station, and raised the unit (both officers and men) through his personal influence. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 22nd December 1914. He died at the Eastern General Hospital, Birmingham of pleurisy and pneumonia, contracted on active service. William was the eldest son of Alexander Gibb of the Capital and Counties Bank, Ipswich, J.P., and Jessie Violet, the daughter of Donald Coghill of Wick, Caithness; and the husband of Rosina Sarah, the only daughter of James Bullock of Westbury, co.Wilks - married at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London on 20th September 1905.