Andrew Ronald Gamble
10 July 1899 - 03 November 1917

03 June 2018 - Elmwood Cemetery, Perth, Ontario

With the help of Perth Upon Tay, Branch 244 , Royal Canadian Legion replaced a 100 year old rotted cross erected by the Gamble family in memory of Andrew Gamble, killed at the 2nd Battle of Passchendaele.

The Gamble Story

Andrew Gamble with his best friend George Leggett traveled to Renfrew, Ontario and enlisted with the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish , 240th Battalion. Gamble , like many others was underage and went to Renfrew so no-one would know him. Gamble passed and given Service 1042119.

By the time the 240th embarked on the SS Megantic from Halifax, Gamble had been promoted to Corporal. When the 240th arrived in England they were transferred to the 7th Reserve Battalion and continued with training.

In order to get to the front line faster, Gamble took a de-motion to Private and he and Leggett were taken on strength with the 21st Battalion. 18 October 1917, Gamble and the 21st Battalion arrived at their billets in Ourton , France where he was assigned to "C" Company.

26th October 1917, Sir Arthur Currie launched the Canadian attack on Passchendaele, commonly referred to as "The 2nd Battle for Passchendaele". On the 3rd November 1917, the 21st Battalion moved onto the front line trenches and were met with heavy machine gun fire and artillery barrage. Both Gamble and his best friend Leggett never survived that day. Gamble's body has never been recovered from the mud of Passchendaele.

100,000 Canadians took part in that battle and by 10 November 1917, they had taken Passchendaele again. It cost Canadians 4,000 killed and 12,000 wounded. 9 Canadians won the Victoria Cross in this battle alone.

Andrew Gamble's name is forever etched on the walls of Menin Gate in Belgium. His family received his British War Medal, Victory Medal and Memorial Cross.

The Gambles erected the original wooden cross 100 years ago. Together with the Leggett family they had made a beautiful brass cross in memory of Andrew Gamble and George Leggett, "The 2 chums who fell together during the Great War." The brass cross, still today, 100 years later, stands its post behind the Altar at St. James Anglican Church , Perth with the Lanark Renfrew Scottish 130th Battalion Colours flying high above the same Altar!

Stacey Niceliu
Sgt At Arms
Perth Upon Tay
Br 244
Royal Canadian Legion