Name
(Robert) William Gamble
1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/03/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
15577
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY, ARRAS
I. A. 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Boxmoor
Pre War
Robert William Gamble (known as William) was born on 2 April 1890 in Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, the eldest son of Frederick and Emma Gamble and one of five children, although one died in infancy. On the 1891 & 1901 Censuses the family were living at Horsecroft Road, Boxmoor, where his father was working as a general labourer, initially on the railway and later on the highway.
He was educated at Boxmoor School from 18 February 1897 to 9 April 1903 and then started work at the age of 13 in a local dairy.
By 1911 the family were living at 57 Horsecroft Road and William was then working as a Printer at the paper factory, of John Dickinson & Co. at Apsley Mills, along with his brother Fred.
Their mother died, age 48, after William and his brother Harry had enlisted, and was buried at Heath Lane Cemetery, Hemel Hempstead, on 11 May 1915.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hemel Hempstead in September 1914 initially being posted to the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and was sent to Felixstowe for basic training. He was later transferred to the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and served in France from 24 March 1915.
He took part of the Battle for Hill 60 and spent much time in the trenches.
He was killed in action on 30 March 1916 when the Battalion were in trenches near Arras and came under fire from aerial torpedoes and trench mortars and were unable to respond owing to "insufficient supply of ammunition".
He is buried in Faubourg D-Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £6 10s and pay owing of £5 0s 9d. Brother to Harry Gamble who died on 15 September 1916 and is buried in Guillemont Road Cemetery, France. N.B. there are records to suggest his father received a war pension for his two sons, but no information regarding amounts paid.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk, www.hemelheroes.com
