Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Gamble, a general labourer, born 1847 in Great Glen, Leicestershire and his wife Susan Gamble (nee Sharpe, married on the 9th October 1871 in the Oakham Parish Church, Rutland), born 1847 in Oakham, Rutland. William, a schoolboy was born in the 2nd quarter of 1885 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, his siblings were, John Robert, a warehouse porter, born 1874 in Oakham and baptised on the 31st January 1875 in Oakham Parish Church, Ada, a schoolgirl, born 1880, Joseph, a schoolboy, born 1883 and Daisy Annie, born 1889, the latter three siblings were all born in Melton Mowbray, in April 1891 the family home was at 32, Thorpe End, Melton Mowbray. In March 1901 William was a shoe trade finisher and was residing in the family home at 16, Wyvern Terrace, Brook Street, Melton Mowbray, together with his father, a general labourer, his mother and siblings, Ada, a dressmaker, Joseph, a shoe trade laster and Daisy. William’s mother died in the 1st quarter of 1909, aged 62 and was buried on the 22nd February 1909 in the Melton Mowbray district. In April 1911 William was employed as a shoe trade heel parer and was residing in the family home at 16, Wyvern Terrace, Brook Street, Melton Mowbray, together with his widowed father, a domestic gardener and his sister Daisy. William had two older siblings, Susannah, born 1873 in Oakham, Rutland and Florence, born 1878 in Melton Mowbray.
William attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War) on the 28th February 1916 in Melton Mowbray. He gave his present address as 16, Wyvern Terrace, Melton Mowbray, his age as 30 years and 320 days and his trade or calling as heel paring machine operator. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father, William Gamble of 16, Wyvern Terrace, Melton Mowbray as his next of kin. He gave his religion as Church of England. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5 inches in height, weighed 140 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34 inches. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 27889 on the 12/4/16. Posted to the 12th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 12/4/16. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 30/8/16. Posted to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 20/7/17. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 19/7/17. Joined 12th Infantry Brigade Depot on the 20/7/17. Posted to the 11th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 28/9/17. Posted to 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 6/1/18. Missing in action on the 21/3/18. Died of wounds on the 27/3/18. Posted to 11th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment for record purposes on the 24/9/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 12/4/16 – 19/7/17, 1 year 99 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 20/7/17 – 27/3/18, 251 days. Total service, 1 year 350 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
A War Office letter received by the Infantry Records Office Lichfield on the 5th November 1918 records the following:
War Office,
Finsbury Court,
Finsbury Pavement,
London E.C.2.
C.2. Casualties. P.M.29.
The Officer in charge of Infantry Record Office Lichfield is informed that a report has been received on Official German List of Dead D10L78 of the death of No. 27889 Pte. W. Gamble 8/Leicestershire Regiment. on 27/3/18 in War Hospital LE CATEAU from fracture of skull. Buried there in the cemetery of H-?-. This report has been accepted as sufficient evidence for official purposes. The next-of-kin should therefore be notified accordingly and the usual non-effective documents prepared. (The place of burial and the place, cause and date of death, should be communicated to the next-of-kin, when these particulars are furnished). The following information was provided by William’s sister Daisy A. Oakley on the 4th August 1919, and was witnessed and signed by H. Theodore Mogridge, Clerk in Holy Orders, Sandown, Melton Mowbray on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, William Gamble of 16, Wyvern terrace, Melton Mowbray. Mother of soldier, deceased. Full blood brothers of soldier, John Robert Gamble, age 44 of Chapel Road, Helmdon, Northants. Joseph Gamble, age 35 of Dunstan Lane, Newbold, Near Chesterfield. Brother-in-law of soldier, Robert Morris, age 36 of 78, Padhome Road, Peterborough. Brother-in-law of soldier, John Oakley, age 26 of 16, Wyvern Terrace, Melton Mowbray. Brother-in-law of soldier, Edwin Pryor, age 45 of 59, Foxley Oaks, Old Whittington. Full blood sisters of soldier, Florence Pryor age 42, of 59, Foxley Oaks, Old Whittington. Daisy Annie Oakley, age 30 of 16, Wyvern Terrace, Melton Mowbray. Sister-in-law of soldier, Annie Gamble, age 43 of Chapel Road, Helmdon, Northants. Sister-in-law of soldier, Mary Gamble, age 34 of Dunstan Lane, Newbold, Near Chesterfield. William’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 17-21-Mar-18 - FRONT LINE, EPEHY. The Battalion moved into the front line on the night of March 17th, relieving the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. The enemy’s attitude still remained abnormal, and prisoners obtained by means of raids gave the date for the attack as the 21st or 22nd. Hostile patrols were seen or encountered in no man’s land and the extraordinary inactivity of the hostile artillery was still maintained. The weather was extremely fine, and had been so for the previous week, under the warm and continued sunshine, the ground became very dry and firm, heavy ground mists were prevalent during the early mornings. At 1.00 am on the morning of the 21st March, a patrol of 1 officer and 20 other ranks was sent out by “C” Company to obtain an identification. This patrol met with no opposition whatever and on his return the officer in charge was able to report that not a single German had been seen. At 4.30 am the hostile shelling ended its long period of inactivity and commenced a heavy bombardment of the Divisional front and to the north and south, high explosive and large quantities of gas shell were used on the front line system, the village of EPEHY and the Batteries. Very heavy shelling of villages in our back areas also took place, and it quickly became evident that the artillery preparation for an attack on a large scale was in progress. The gas bombardment was particularly severe, mustard gas being used, all ranks were compelled to wear their box respirators for at least 3 hours. When daylight came just after 6.00 am it was quite impossible to see the wire in front of the trenches on account of the thickness of the mist, a great disadvantage was thus experienced, the necessity for good observation being absolutely vital to the defenders. Towards 9.00 am the hostile artillery lifted the greater part of the fire from our front line system, and placed a -?- barrage west of EPEHY on the Battery positions and all approaches. Telephone communications with two of the front line Companies “C” and “D” were still working and no enemy impending attack had been reported, the thick mist still continued and observation was impossible. During the preparatory bombardment very few casualties were sustained by the Battalion and all ranks were fully prepared for the appearance of the hostile infantry. At 9.30 am the enemy infantry advanced to the attack, in accordance with the order to man battle stations the front line garrison had been withdrawn to the immediate support line, and the attack on the Battalion sector was everywhere repelled with heavy loss to the enemy. The enemy was content to hold for the line, our original front line, where he was subjected to a heavy and accurate rifle grenade and Lewis gun fire. Visibility still continued to be impossible and Forward Observation Officers were unable to inform their Batteries of the position of the hostile infantry or even give any clear idea of the situation. During the course of the morning the mist lifted slightly and at intervals strong forces of the enemy could be seen advancing towards ROHNSOY and LEMPIRE on our right. The 16th Division on our right were compelled to withdraw some distance to conform with the line on their right. Strong bombing attacks were made against our right flank held by “A” Company, on two occasions the enemy forced their way into “A” Company’s trenches, but were immediately ejected by vigorous counter bombing. Towards 1.00 pm a lull occurred in the fighting on the Battalion front and meanwhile the mist had cleared. Large forces of the enemy could be seen moving west through ROHNSOY and LEMPIRE, and large concentrations of his infantry were seen massing in the valleys east of our front line and in the neighbourhood of VAUCELETTE FARM and VILLERS GUISLAIN. During the afternoon reports received showed that the enemy has broken through our defensive system on the right and were advancing rapidly, the enemy was everywhere held on the 110th Brigade front. Towards 5.00 pm the enemy commenced to trench mortar the support line, the fire being heavy and accurate, and at 6.00pm a withdrawal was made to the RED LINE just east of EPEHY to conform with the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on our left who had been driven out of their support line and to link up with the left Battalion of the 16th Division on our right. The night of March 21st/22nd March passed without any further attack on the front of the hostile infantry, but the enemy artillery displayed great activity during the night chiefly on the approaches to EPEHY and the back areas.
The War Diary records: 22 Mar-18 - FRONT LINE, EPEHY. The early morning of the 22nd March brought with it the same heavy mist, the hostile artillery displayed little activity and up till 9.00 am the enemy made no further attack, observation of any kind was quite impossible and the movements of the enemy on our right could not be seen. During the night of the 21st/22nd March from information received it was evident that small parties of the enemy had reached the EPEHY – ST EMILIE ROAD, it was also reported that a small party about 20 strong had been seen near the advanced dressing station in the South West edge of EPEHY. About 9.00 am favoured and hidden by the heavy mist the enemy infantry commenced to push into the village from the EPEHY – ST EMILIE ROAD. Three posts on the South East edge of the village were rushed from the rear and taken and the enemy continued to advance in a North Eastern direction through the village. By this time the right flank of the Battalion was completely in the air and the hostile infantry were threatening the RED LINE from the East, South and West. The Commanding Officer decided to evacuate the RED LINE at 10.00 am, at the same time moving Battalion Headquarters from FISHERS KEEP. Accordingly the decision was communicated to the 4 Companies holding the RED LINE and to the 2 Companies of the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT defending the village. The evacuation of the RED LINE was carried out under very difficult circumstances as the enemy were rapidly closing in from three sides. A defensive flank was then formed along the SAULCOURT – EPEHY ROAD to link up with the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT holding PEIZIERE and the YELLOW LINE, held by 2 Companies of the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT and 2 Companies of the Reserve Brigade. About 10.30 am the mist lifted considerably, very large forces of hostile infantry were seen advancing west along the high ground behind VILLERS FAUCON and EPEHY. It was very evident that the enemy would make a serious attempt to drive in the right flank of the YELLOW LINE. Towards 11.00 am small parties of the enemy infantry began to break clear of the West side of EPEHY and to collect together in the dead ground West of the village, these parties were made to pay dearly for their enterprise, but shortly after 11.00 am, the mist descended again and the enemy was able to complete his concentration in comparative safety. At 11.30 am the Brigade received orders to withdraw through SAULCOURT to LONGAVESNES (ST QUENTIN A1) and to reorganise there. At the same time the enemy about a Battalion strong pushed forward from EPEHY towards the SAULCOURT – EPEHY ROAD. The Brigade slowly withdrew through the defences of SAULCOURT (BROWN LINE) held by the Reserve Brigade and details of 110th Brigade HQ to LONGAVESNES. From there the Brigade marched to AIZECOURT-LE-HAUT arriving there about 7.00 pm. In the meantime the enemy’s advance was arrested by the SAULCOURT DEFENCES and the BROWN LINE west of SAULCOURT. At 4.30 pm after a short but very intense shelling preparation the enemy made an attack in force on the BROWN LINE, and succeeded in capturing SAULCOURT, after this rapid progress was made by the enemy resulting in the loss of GUYENCOURT, LONGAVESNES and LIBRAMONT. During the evening the Corps received orders to withdraw to the GREEN LINE East of TEMPLEUX LA FOSSE to conform with the movements of the next Corps to the South.
On Friday May 3rd 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MORE MELTONIANS MISSING. – 27889 Pte. W. Gamble, Leicestershire Regt., is posted missing since the engagement in the field on March 21st. He enlisted on April 12th, 1916, and before enlisting worked at Messrs. Smith, Faire and Co.
On Friday November 15th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MELTON PRISONER OF WAR’S DEATH. Pte. William Gamble, 8th Leicester’s (son of Mr. William Gamble, 16, Wyvern-terrace, Melton Mowbray), was reported wounded in the head and missing since March 21st. Nothing further was heard until last Sunday morning, when a communication was received that he died of wounds at Le Cautau,(sic) as a prisoner of war on March 27th. Before the war deceased worked for Messrs. Smith, Faire and Co., boot and shoe manufacturers. He was for several years a prominent local footballer, also a well known athlete.