WorldWar I
FallenSoldiers - RockwoodCenotaph
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JAMESALBERTGAMBLE
127203Private
JamesAlbert Gamblewas born inTweed, Ontarioon 18March 1897 (although his attestation
papers indicate1847) toPeter andMaggieGamble of Rockwood, Ontario (later Toronto). Hewas
theoldest of their seven children (BertieMay b.1898,William b.1901, Norman b.1903, Ritab.1905,
Harold b.1907 andHarry b.1911). Jameswas 18 years and 7months oldwhen he volunteered
for serviceon 8October 1915, inRockwood. Interestingly, theMagistratewho signed James’
AttestationPaper was JohnMutrie – the father of Major Robert Mutrie. His tradewas listed as
“Harper”, whichwas a termgenerally used to describe a folkmusicianwho played the harp.
Interestingly, both JamesAlbert Gambleand JohnWilfredOakes volunteered on the same day, in
the same recruitment office and their regimental numbers are consecutive.
PrivateGamblewas assigned to the 42ndBattalion of theCanadian Infantry (QuebecRegiment).
Fewdetails have been foundabout hismilitary training betweenwhen he volunteered for overseas
serviceuntil 16 of September 1916, when at the age of 19 years and 6months, hewas killed in
action during theBattleof Flers-Courcelette.
Private JamesAlbert Gamble has no known burial site but his name is engraved on theVimyRidge
Memorial at Pas deCalais France and is alsomemorialized in theBooks of Remembrance, in the
PeaceTower of theCanadianParliament Buildings, Ottawa.
TheBattleof Flers-Courcelette
, France, took place inSeptember 1916. It was a battlewithin
themuch larger and longer Franco-BritishSommeOffensivewhich took place in the summer and
fall of 1916. The battle for Flers-Courcelette started on 15September and lasted oneweek. Its
objectivewas to break through theGerman line by usingmassed artillery and infantry attacks.
Once through, the planwas to use cavalry to overrun theGermans. It was the third and final
general offensivemounted by theBritishArmy during theBattleof theSomme (inwhich over 1
millionmen onboth sideswere killed). Unfortunately, by its conclusion on 22September, the
strategic objective of a breakthrough had not been achieved; however, tactical gainsweremade
with the capture of the villages of Courcelette, Martinpuich andFlers. In some places, the front
lineswere advancedby over 2,500 yards (2,300m) by theAllied attacks. The battle is significant
for the first use of the tank inwarfare. It alsomarked the debut of theCanadian andNewZealand
Divisions on theSomme battlefield. On a nearbymemorial, theCanadians are commemorated for
their part in breaking theGerman lines from 3September to 18November 1916.
Born:
18March 1897 inTweed, Ontario
PreviousOccupation:
Musician (Harper)
Enlisted:
8October 1915 inRockwood, Ontario
Died:
16September 1916 at theageof 19
Buried:
No known burial site
FallenSoldiers - RockwoodCenotaph
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HENRY (“HAR Y”) HAMPSON
6452
H rryHampsonwas born on 14March 1885 oWilliam andHannah (neeTaylor) H mp on f
EdenMlls, Ontario. Hewas the fourth of their five children (Clarissa J neb.1879, Ge rgeThomas
b.1880, AliceMaudb.1883 andHel n b.1891) After his schooling he became a butcher until, on
13September 1915, t the age of 30 y ars nd 5months, he volu teere ith the 71st Ov seas
Battalion inGuelph.
Afte training, Priv teHa pso w s shipped to
Halifaxwhere heboardedHMT (HiredMilitary
Transport) Olympic, nicknam d “OldR li ble”
for hermanywar time voyages loadedwth up
to 6,000 troops – amuch better record than her
sister ship, theTit nic. DuringWorldWar I, she
carried total of 132,000 troops toEurope from
NorthAmerica plus she carried 58,000 troops
back toCa ada. She depart d fr mHalifax on
1April 1916 and arrived in Liverpool, England on
11April. R cords s ate that during the voyage,
th rew s noutbr ak of rubella (German
m sles) andPrivateHampson became infected. Shortly fter arrival in Liverpool, England, hewas
admitted toAldershot IsolationHospital on 19April and discharged threeweeks later. Hewas then
transferred to the 54th InfantryBattalio (CDivision) of theCanadianExpedi ionary Forc (CEF),
11th InfantryBrig de, 4thDivisio , inBramsh tt. After add tional training, he depart d for France and
arrived at LeHavr on 14August 1916.
On 25Aug st, the newly formed 4thCanadianDivisio (of which the54thBattalionw s part) arrived
on th line of what becam known as heBattleof theSomme. The 4thDivision remained in theYpres
Salient, as part of the int rnational “Frank’s Force” to provide a diver io to the figh ing in the south at
Fle s-Courcel tte. The54thBattalionw s oneof 6C nadian units that c rried out 7 raids on the night
of 16th-17thSeptemb r 1916, whenPrivat Hampso was killed. TheOfficial CanadianWa Diary
records that by the ndof th raid, 4Lieutenants and 21 other ranksweremissing and 1 Lieutenant
and 7 other rankswere reported killed inacti n. Ov r t n xt fewdays, se rches for themissing
continuedwithout success. PrivateHampsonwas one of the21whowere lost and nev r found and
presumed killed in action. Hismemorial gravemark r is located in th M ninGate (Ypres)Memorial
inFlanders, Belgium. His name is alsomemorialized in theBooks of Remembrance, in thePeace
Tower of theCanadianParliament Buildings, Ottawa.
Hismother, HannahHampson, received theMemorial Cross from theCanadianGovernment.
4
85 Ed nMills, Ontario
B tcher
13Sept mber 1915 inGuelph, Ontario
31
L st and ever found. Memorial gravemarker inFlanders, Belgium
HMTOlympic -WartimeConfiguration
