Arthur Gamble

Arthur was the only son of William and Sarah Elizabeth (Elizabeth) Gamble. At the time of the 1911 Census Elizabeth was described as having had seven children of whom only four had survived. Four children were named on the census between 1881 and 1911; Florence, Martha Elizabeth (Elizabeth), Arthur and May Edith. William, a cellarman in a public house, was born in Syston Leicestershire, and his wife in Grantham. In 1881 they and their one-year old daughter Florence were living at Aspley Terrace, Radford, in the household of Richard and Sarah Read and their three children. William and his family were described as Richard's relatives. By 1891 William and Elizabeth were living at 167 Forest Road West with their four children; Florence (11), Martha Elizabeth (6), Arthur (3) and May (7 months). Also in the household was a boarder, James Heath (23). All the family, apart from Florence who had left home by then, were at the same address ten years later in 1901. However, by the time of the 1911 census Elizabeth was living at 177 Forest Road West with only her two youngest daughters; Martha, a blouse hand, and May, a hosiery machinist. Elizabeth herself was a lace finisher working from home. The census form was completed by Martha and her mother was described as the head of the household but also as being married (33 years). William Gamble has not yet been traced on the 1911 census. It is possible that Arthur emigrated to Canada in 1912 as there is a record of an Arthur Gamble aged 24 (b. England 1888), on the passenger list of the SS Montrose out of Liverpool for St John, Halifax, arriving on 17 April 1912. His ultimate destination was Montreal in the province of Quebec; the passenger list described him as a farm labourer whose intended occupation was that of farm labourer. Arthur's mother was named as his next of kin when he enlisted in 1915 by which time she was living at 3 Oliver Street, off Portland Road, Nottingham. This is also the address given on the later CWGC record