Gibb was born in
Queenstown, South Australia, a son of John Gilbert Gibb (1867–1935) and his wife Caroline Elizabeth Gibb,
née Dixon (1868 – 10 December 1946) of New Street, Queenstown, later of Prince Street, Alberton. He was educated at Alberton Primary School and LeFevre High School, where he won a scholarship to the
South Australian School of Mines and Industries, where he studied mechanical engineering and won a gold medal. He was apprenticed as an electrical mechanic to Gibb & Miller, engineers of Port Road, Port Adelaide. He had served three years (another reference has him working for the Adelaide Cement Company at this time) He took his mechanical and electrical engineering diploma at the School of Mines in 1922 which entitled him to £500 and two years of study abroad. He was awarded a master's degree in 1927. ==Family==