Remembering Private William Gambles lost 24th March 1918

​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.