Sgt. Gamble's Cello

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Can't imagine it went to Isandhlwana, but otherwise a plausible story. Brickhill left Gamble to his fate.
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Steve

Subject: Sgt Gamble's Cello Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:06 pm

Hi Steve
It went for a very high price , way more than I expected it to go for ! Shocked

90th

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Hi Gary
Sounds like it was bought for its musical qualities more than its provenance. Don't know much about Cellos and their prices. I wonder if the hard bitten men of the 24th enjoyed it!
Steve

Subject: Re: Sgt. Gamble's Cello Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:17 pm

Lucky really when you consider the Zulu were stabbing tins of bully beef. The Cello is a much bigger target.

Subject: Re: Sgt. Gamble's Cello Wed Mar 02, 2016 5:14 pm

I read with dismay the article of the ’cello belonging to the “Welsh soldier” killed at Isandhlwana – Band Sergt. David Gamble.
First, the soldier in the photograph holding the double bass could not possibly have been Gamble. Look at his arm – he has no sergeant’s stripes. Secondly, there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that Gamble was a Welsh soldier. In fact the 1st battalion had not recruited particularly in Wales but it had from among the industrial poor of Birmingham and the Black Country. The likelihood is that he was English although, of course, he could equally have come from Ireland, Scotland or Wales. In fact, the regiment when he enlisted was the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment; it only became the South Wales Borderers in 1881 two years after his death. Lastly, no provenance whatsoever was given in the article. On what basis is this miraculously-appearing ’cello presumed to have ‘survived’ the battle, been retrieved from a remote spot in the then enemy’s country of Zululand, returned to Britain, and remained hidden for 137 years? If it’s true, it would be a remarkable story indeed: one worthy of a national headline! But a reader has no way to judge from the article.

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Coming up next "Captain Corelli's Mandolin".

Steve

Posts : 303 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

Here is a little genealogical information on David Gamble, according to the first link he was born in Dublin;

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Subject: Re: Sgt. Gamble's Cello Thu Mar 03, 2016 3:10 pm

Tim
Well done! Thanks, this has been of real use to me.
Julian

Posts : 303 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

David's widow Martha (who re-married) died in 1928 and is buried in Tunbridge Wells cemetery; their son David Bertram Gamble died in 1951 aged 73 and was also interred here.

Regards,

Tim

Subject: Re: Sgt. Gamble's Cello Wed Feb 08, 2023 12:23 am

Hi

I wonder if Corporal William Gamble R E was David's brother, he being a member of Chards section at the Ponts, sent back to Isandlwana to their fate.

Subject: Re: Sgt. Gamble's Cello Wed Feb 08, 2023 9:57 am

That's a very long shot Eddie!

Subject: Sgt Gamble's Cello Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:29 pm

Julian
Tend to agree , haven't come across anything suggesting the two Gamble's were Brothers , well , not yet anyway ! Joker

90th

Subject: Re: Sgt. Gamble's Cello Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:59 pm

Hi 90th

It's an unusual name, you never know.

Subject: Sgt Gamble's Cello Thu Feb 09, 2023 12:53 am

Eddie
It's possible , but you'd expect someone on here would've read over the years they were related ? , I had a very quick look
in Forsythe's Medal Roll , and I mean a very quick look , found a J Gamble on HMS Bodicea !. That was without checking all the Imperial or Colonial Regts themselves .
90th

Subject: Re: Sgt. Gamble's Cello Thu Feb 09, 2023 9:49 am

Gary,

To save you the trouble of looking. In addition to the two iSandlwana casualties and as well as Ordinary Seaman J. Gamble, H.M.S. Boadicea.

There were also the following:
Pte. J. Gamble 58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment.
Pte. M. Gamble 94th Regiment.
L/Cpl. N. Gamble 1st (King’s) Dragoon Guards.
Pte. W. Gamble, 3rd Battalion, 60th (King’s Royal Rifle Corps) Regiment.

JY

Subject: Re: Sgt. Gamble's Cello Thu Feb 09, 2023 9:54 am

So, related? A bit of a Gamble then, Eddie.

Subject: Re: Sgt. Gamble's Cello Thu Feb 09, 2023 12:45 pm

Hi John/Julian

Yes Very Happy

I have since researched the name and found it not so unusual after all. Seems to be many a Gamble from Irish decent.

Cheers Eddie

Subject: Re: Sgt. Gamble's Cello Thu Feb 09, 2023 1:06 pm

Eddie,

It might be prudent of you to invest in a copy of Victoria’s Harvest - The Irish Soldier in the Zulu War of 1879, if you wish to discover more about the Irish involvement in the campaign.

JY

Subject: Re: Sgt. Gamble's Cello Thu Feb 09, 2023 1:24 pm

Thank you John.

Subject: Re: Sgt. Gamble's Cello Thu Feb 09, 2023 3:39 pm

Eddie,
The question was certainly worth asking.

Subject: Re: Sgt. Gamble's Cello Thu Feb 09, 2023 3:59 pm

Thank you Julian

I did find on Geni the decendents of David & Martha Gamble, noticing you had visited it also in 2016.
His children being:
David Minors Gamble
Margaret Ethel Gamble
Stepson: Ernest Benjamin Minors Woollan.

Cheers Eddie