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 framework knitter, born on the 7th April 1864 in Fleckney, Leicestershire and baptised on the 7th January 1866 in the Church of St. Nicholas, Fleckney (son of Thomas Gamble, 1824-1900 and Elizabeth Moore) and his wife Eliza Gamble (nee Buckby, married in the October quarter of 1888 in the Market Harborough, Leicestershire district), born in the April quarter of 1861 in Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire and baptised on the 3rd November 1861 in St. Wilfrid’s Church, Kibworth Beauchamp (daughter of Samuel Buckby, 1837 and Sarah Gamble, 1838). Maurice Arnold was born in the January quarter of 1890 in Fleckney, in April 1891 the family home was at Kilby Road, Fleckney. In March 1901 Maurice was residing in the family home at Kilby Road, Fleckney, together with his father, a framework knitter, his mother and siblings, Alfred Gerald, born on the 15th June 1891, James Kenney, born in the July quarter of 1894, William Leonard, born on the 5th December 1896, Florence Annie, born in the July quarter of 1899 and Sarah Alice, born in the January quarter of 1901 and baptised on the 14th February 1902 in the Church of St. Nicholas, Fleckney, all his siblings were born in Fleckney. In April 1911 Maurice was employed as a hosiery trade worker and was residing in the family home at Kilby Road, Fleckney, together with his father, a hosiery trade worker, his mother and siblings, Alfred, a hosiery trade worker, James, a hosiery trade worker, William, a butcher and Lois Emily, born on the 6th June 1902 in Fleckney, also residing with the family was a sister, Emma Gamble, a hosiery trade linker, born 1869 in Fleckney.
Maurice enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 25th September 1914 in Leicester, and was allotted the regimental service number 3015. He gave his present address as Kilby Road, Fleckney, Leicestershire.
His medical history was compiled during an examination that took place in Leicester on the 22nd September 1914 and recorded his declared age as 24 years 90 days, that he was 5-feet 9¼ inches in height and had a chest measurement of between 35 and 37 inches.
His medical inspection record gave his full name as Maurice Arnold Gamble, his apparent age as 24 years 9 months, his height as 5-foot 9¼ inches, his chest measurement as 35 inches to 37 inches, his vision as R6/18 L6/24 and his physical development as good.
He was certified as fit for the Territorial Force. Date 22nd September 1914. Place Leicester.
He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, William Gamble, Kilby Road, Fleckney, Leicestershire.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Joined. At Leicester. 25/9/14.
Posted. To 4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 25/9/14.
Embodied service commenced. 25/9/14.
Embarked. With 1/4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 2/3/15.
Landed. Le Havre. 3/3/15.
Reported. Missing in action. In the Field. 13/10/15.
Death accepted for official purposes on or after. 13/10/15.
Struck off strength of Bn. from. 10/12/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 25/9/14 – 1/3/15. 158 days.
France. 2/3/15 – 13/10/15. 226 days
Total Service. 1 year 19 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 12 Oct-15 - At 9.00 am Battalion marched to SAILLY LABOURSE. Dinners and teas were cooked here. Rations for 134 men issued. At 5.15 pm Battalion marched to VERMELLES where stores were taken up. At 11.00 pm Battalion arrived in trenches.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00 pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50 pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00 pm artillery lifted and Battalion assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lieutenant Colonel R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brigadier General KEMP. All officers of the Battalion either killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - In the evening the Battalion was relieved by part of the 139th Brigade and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned.
The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Brigade 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Brigade 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.
On Thursday, December 2nd, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. – LEICESTER’S FALLEN AND MISSING. - (A photograph accompanied the article). – Pte. M. A. GAMBLE, 4th Leicester’s, missing since Oct.13th. His parents reside at Kilby-road, Fleckney.