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Remembering Private William Gambles lost 24th March 1918

22/3/2018

2 Comments

 
Picture

​A wreath in William’s memory and that of all the Pudsey lads named, will be laid at the Arras Memorial this Saturday.

Private William Gambles, West Yorkshire Regiment 17/1446. Died 24 March 1918 Arras age 33.
William was the Son of Samuel Gambles and Hannah Mary Procter. He was  born on the 3rd September 1885 at Littlemoor Pudsey, baptised on 10th October 1885 at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel Littlemoor. He married Edith Payne on the 22 December 1906 at St Wilfred's Calverley. He worked at Boyes and Helliwell Mill Pudsey as a Cloth Finisher. William joined the 2nd Leeds Pals (17th WYR Regiment “Bantams”) as a volunteer during 1915, as can be deduced from his service number being 1446. The 17th Service Battalion was formed on the 17th December 1914 and began training from January 1915 at Ilkley, then moving to Skipton in May before being taken over by the War Office in June. Then on to the vacated Leeds Pals Colsterdale training camp. They entrained to Southampton 31 January 1916 then left for France and landed on the 1st February 1916 at Le Havre, being the first Service Battalion from Leeds to be in France. William qualified as a signaller for his Company. During the German Spring Offensive of 1918, both Leeds Battalions were forced into a fighting retreat from the town of Arras, suffering heavy losses. William is believed KIA around the St Leger area, Arras, Pas de Calais. At the time of his death his wife was living at 12 Croft Place Lowtown Pudsey with their 3 year old son Herbert. William is commemorated on the Arras Memorial along side 31 other men from Pudsey and Farsley that fell and were lost in the area.
Information supplied with thanks by Jennie Lawton and Ellen Blenkinsop.
2 Comments
Esme Brooke
9/11/2018 04:27:20 am

This is my great granddad and a very lovely and fitting tribute. What is very interesting is that he was a Signalman and my brother joined the Signals in 1988 and remained in the British Army for 16 years.

I will be at the Cenotaph on Sunday paying my respects.

Reply
Matthew Gambles
8/11/2020 08:30:27 am

Hi,

Thanks for posting the above information. I believe William is my great uncle. I found out about William from my dad a few years ago and have been going to the Pudsey cenotaph ever since.

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    Blog postings by Damon Sugden on behalf of Pudsey & Farsley Royal British Legion Branch and in association with Pudsey Civic Society.

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