Robert Gamble

Robert was born in Nottingham in 1878. He married Alice Mary Gilks (b. 1880) in 1902 and by 1911 they had had four children of whom only two survived childhood. Their surviving children were Alice Ruby b. July 1904 and Florence Ivy (Ivy) b. August 1910. In 1911 Robert, an out porter (Midland Railway Coy), his wife Alice and their two daughters were living at 3 Hague Cottages, Orange Street, Nottingham. Their daughter Alice Ruby died on 7 November 1918 aged 14. Alice snr. and her daughter Florence Ivy, a waitress (café bar), were still living at 3 Hague Cottages in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Also in the household were Rex Aubrey Gamble (b. 1930) and Dennis Gamble (b. 1931). The records of two other members of the household remain closed. Florence Ivy married George W Townsley in 1944. She died in February 1948. Her mother Alice Mary Gamble probably died in 1963.

1911 - out porter (Midland Railway Company)

3 Hague Cottages, Orange Street, Nottingham

Transferred from 17th Bn Sherwood Foresters (25288 Private) to 854th Area Employment Company, Labour Corps. (402304 Private). He was wounded and taken down the line to hospital at Sangatte where he died on 19 December 1917. He was buried at Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte, France (grave ref. II.B.12A). CWGC - History of Les Baraques Military Cemetery (extract): 'In April 1915, No.6 Base Supply Depot was started at Calais to help relieve the pressure on Boulogne and to provide a base nearer to the front than Havre or Rouen. The base remained open until the last Commonwealth forces left France in March 1921. The 30th, 35th and 38th General Hospitals, No.9 British Red Cross Hospital and No.10 Canadian Stationary Hospital were also stationed in the town providing about 2,500 beds. For three years, Commonwealth burials were made in Calais Southern Cemetery, but it later became necessary to start a new site and in September 1917, the first burials took place at Les Baraques. The cemetery continued in use until 1921.' (www.cwgc.org)

CWGC additional information: 'Husband of Alice Gamble of 3, Hague Cottages, Orange Street, Nottingham.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 29 December 1917: ‘Gamble. Died of wounds, December 19th, Pte R Gamble, Sherwood Foresters, of 3, Hague-cottages, Orange-street. A bitter blow, a shock severe, to part with one we loved so dear. From sorrowing wife and two children.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths,’ 9 November 1918: ‘Gamble. On November 7th, 1918, Alice Ruby Gamble of 3 Hague Cottages, Orange-street, the dearly beloved child of Alice and the late R Gamble, aged 14 years. Christ will link the broken chain. Heartbroken mother, sister Ivy.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 19 December 1918: ‘Gamble. In loving memory of my dear husband, Robert Gamble, killed in France, December 19th, 1917. Ever in our thoughts. Loving wife, child Ivy.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) WW1 Pension Ledgers: named widow, Alice and children Alice Ruby and Florence Ivy. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow Alice was his sole legatee