Lawrence Ernest Gamble

Lawrence was the eldest son of Thomas and Elizabeth Gamble (née Smith). His father Thomas was born in Clayworth, Nottinghamshire, in 1860, the son of Lawrence and Sarah Gamble. His mother Elizabeth was born in Normanton on Trent, Nottinghamshire, in 1861, the daughter of John and Sarah Smith. Thomas and Elizabeth were married at Huddersfield Holy Trinity, Yorkshire, on 23 June 1890. Thomas, a telegraph wireman (railway), was living in Ordsall, Retford, while Elizabeth was living in Huddersfield. They had three children who were all born in Retford: Lawrence Ernest b. 1891, Frederick Kirkby b. 1893 and Sarah Alice b. 1894. All three children were baptised at Retford St Swithun, Lawrence on 19 April 1891. Thomas and Elizabeth lived on Albert Road, Ordsall, after their marriage, and were still living in the town when their daughter was baptised in September 1894. However, by 1901 the family had moved to 76 Ashton Road, Dukinfield, Ashton under Lyne, Cheshire, but by 1911 was living at 66 Guide Lane, Hooley Hill, Audenshaw, Lancashire. Thomas was a telegraph linesman in the employ of the Great Central Railway as was his son, Frederick, a railway coach shaper and Sarah was working as a felt hat trimmer. Lawrence, who was now 19 years old, had joined the 2nd Dragoon Guards (4867 Private) and was with the Regiment in Aldershot (Wellington Lines). Both Lawrence and Frederick's military records name their father, Thomas, of 14 Greasham Road, Neasden, London, as their next of kin. However, Thomas and Elizabeth lived for some years in Nottingham, possibly moving there from London. Elizabeth died in Nottingham on 2 November 1918 and was buried there. Her daughter Sarah was married in Nottingham in 1920 (J/A/S) and Frederick, who also served in the Great War, was discharged from the Royal Tank Corps in 1923 to 10 Ferriby Terrace, Glapton Road, Meadows, Nottingham (see 'Extra information'). The electoral rolls show that Frederick and his father lived at this address from at least 1919, Thomas until about 1921 and Frederick to at least 1923, while Reginald Watson, who married Sarah Gamble in 1920, also lived there between 1921 and at least 1924. Members of the family therefore continued to live in the parish of St Faith's (North Wilford) long enough for Lawrence's name to be nominated for the parish war memorial. Thomas Gamble died on 12 May 1938 (reg. Towcester) aged 78 and was buried in London Road Cemetery, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes. Sarah Alice and her husband Reginald Richard Watson, a railway carriage finisher, who had lived at 10 Ferriby Terrace, Glapton Street, Meadows, Nottingham, for several years after their marriage, were living in Towcester in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. They had moved to Wolverton, Buckinghamshire, by the time of Sarah's death on 26 July 1947. Frederick married Elsie Cheney in 1926 (reg. O/N/D Newcastle, Staffordshire). Frederick, an assistant signal and telegraph linesman, his wife and daughter Alice were living in Hawarden, Flintshire, Wales, in 1939. He died in Hawarden in 1963 and was buried in St Asaph's churchyard.

Lawrence Gamble was a regular soldier. In 1911 he was serving with 2nd Dragoon Guards (4867) at Aldershot.

Enlisted Hyde, Cheshire.

Lawrence was serving with 2nd Dragoon Guards (4867 Private) at Aldershot in 1911. The Regiment was still stationed in Aldershot when it was moblised in August 1914 and landed at Le Havre, France, on 17 August. There are few surviving military records for Lawrence, but it is likely that he served continuously in the army from the time of his enlistment in the 2nd Dragoon Guards although the date of his transfer to the 14th Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment is not known. The 14th (Service) Bn of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment was a battalion of Kitchener's New Armies and was formed in Birmingham by the Lord Mayor and a local committee in September 1914. It landed at Boulogne for service with the BEF France on 21 November 1915 and on 28 December the same year came under order of 13th Brigade, 5th Division. It served on the Western Front until transferred to Italy in November 1917, the month after Lawrence's death, returning to France in April 1918 after the start of the German Spring offensive. The 14th Battalion probably took part in the Battle of Arras in 1917 and then the Third Battle Ypres followed by the Second Battle of Passchendaele (26 October-10 November). Lawrence was killed in action on 26 October 1917 and is buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery, Belgium (grave ref. IX A. D. 17). CWGC - History of Hooge Crater Cemetery (extract): the cemetery is 4km from the town of Ieper (Ypres). 'Hooge Chateau and its stables were the scene of very fierce fighting throughout the First World War. On 31 October 1914, the staff of the 1st and 2nd Divisions were wiped out when the chateau was shelled; from 24 May to 3 June 1915, the chateau was defended against German attacks and in July 1915, the crater was made by a mine sprung by the 3rd Division. On 30 July, the Germans took the chateau, and on 9 August, it and the crater were regained by the 6th Division. The Germans retook Hooge on 6 June 1916 and on 31 July 1917, the 8th Division advanced 1.6km beyond it. It was lost for the last time in April 1918, but regained by the 9th (Scottish) and 29th Divisions on 28 September. Hooge Crater Cemetery was begun by the 7th Division Burial Officer early in October 1917. It contained originally 76 graves, in Rows A to D of Plot I, but was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Zillebeke, Zantvoorde and Gheluvelt and the following smaller cemeteries [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)

Frederick attested at Hyde, Cheshire, on 7 October 1911, aged 18 years 8 months, occupation sewing machine fitter; this was probably another description of his trade 'railway coach shaper' on the 1911 Census. The details of Frederick's military service are taken from a post-war Royal Tank Corps record (7815684) which noted his Great War service with the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) and 4th Dragoon Guards. Frederick served in France from 16 August 1914 to 1 April 1919 and qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. He was mobilised/embodied service with the RTC from 9 April 1921 to 9 June 1921 and was discharged on 6 October 1923. His address on discharge was 10 Ferriby Terrace, Glapton Road, Nottingham (Meadows). Inscription on the Gamble family grave, London Road Cemetery, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes: 'In loving remembrance of Dad and Mother. Thomas Gamble died May 12th 1938 aged 78 years. Elizabeth Gamble died Nov. 2nd 1918, aged 58 years. Also Lawrence Ernest son of the above killed in the Great War Oct. 20th 1917, aged 26 years. In loving memory of Sarah Alice Watson died July 26th, 1947 aged 53 years.' Registers of Soldiers' Effects: a payment was made to his mother in April 1918 and to his father in December 1919 (the year after his mother's death). WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his father Thomas Gamble, residence Nottingham