| Notes |
- PRIVATE
- He died on the first day of the battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916.
During the Siege of Ladysmith in 1899 he joined the Natal Medical Corps (he would have been 14). After the relief, the family moved to Pitermaritzburg, where he matriculated at Maritzburg College.
His name is on the Maritzburg College War Memorial.
From 1903 to 1906 he was a member of the Natal Royal Regiment Mounted Infantry. He saw active service during the Natal Native Rebellion of 1906 (Bambatha Rebellion).
From 1906 until 1912 he was a member of the Natal Militia, First Reserve, and was commisioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in January 1908.
He worked for the Natal Civil Service, Treasury Department, but in 1912 he decided to attend Theological College.
At the time of the outbreak of the war he was a student at St Augustine's College, Canterbury, preparing for Holy Orders. He joined the army with his Bishop's permission, joining on December 4, 1914, and became Lieutenant in the 10th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was with the battalion when they sailed for France in September 1915.
The 10th K.O.Y.L.I. were attached to 64 Brigade of the 21st division. The units were formed at Berkhamstead, the CO of the 10 KOYLI was Lt-Col. A.W.A. Pollock. They became part of 64 Infantry Brigade, together with 14«sup»th«/sup» and 15«sup»th«/sup» Bn. Durham Light Infantry and moved to Halton Park, Wendover, thence into billets in Maidenhead. They were inspected by Gen. Sir. Arthur Wynne on March 27, 1915, when 9 and 10 KOYLI were each upwards of 1000 strong. In august they marched to Witley Camp in Surrey. During this period there was still ashortage of uniforms and equipment - most of the men carried dummy rifles - 50 rifles were issued in December 1914 for training, but the bulk of the battalion did not receive their rifles until the middle of 1915.
After the battle of Loos, the division spent the following months in and out of the trenches, but no major actions were fought until July 1st, the first day of the battle of the Somme, where they took part in what became know as the First Battle of Albert. The 10th K.O.Y.L.I. attacked from the trenches between Albert and Ovillers. They were positioned with the 9th K.O.Y.L.I on their right and the 15th Royal Scots on their left.
According to the War Diary of the 10th K.O.Y.L.I., on July 1, 1916: "The British Offensive commenced this battalion leading the 64 Brigade assault. They left the trenches at 7:30 a.m. and took CRUCIFIX TRENCH that morning & held it till early the next when they were relieved by the 1st LINCOLNS." The diary lists 9 Officers killed (one of whom was Jack Bamber) and 16 wounded, as well as 50 other ranks killed, 292 wounded and 135 missing. All officers who took part in the initial assault were casualties (killed or wounded).
There is a memorial marker in the Gordon Dump Cemetry, Ovillers-La Boisselle, France, located 2 kilometres north-east of Albert, which states "Believed to be buried in this cemetry". The marker stands alongside those several of his comrades from the 10th Bn. K.O.Y.L.I., including Lts. Andrew and Cockroft, Capt. Heygate and Private McLoughlin, all killed on July 1, 1916.
An obituary was published in St Saviour's Magazine (St Saviour's was the cathedral that he attended in Pietermaritzburg)
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(Author not given)
The Daily News (Durban) - Monday April 30, 1973
LADYSMITH SIEGE DIARY RECALLS - A BITTER LESSON FOR WEE JACK BAMBER
Paging through the Diary of the Siege of Ladysmith (Part 4) again, I came upon the story of the little fellow who used to help his mum nurse the wounded soldiers. There wasn't much he could do for many of them but he did a lot to buck up the soldiers' spirits just being around.
The story is told in one of the hitherto unpublished letters in the Diary, which is the work of the Ladysmith Historical Society.
It is a letter dated June 1900, from a Mrs Bamber to her sister in England, after the siege had been lifted.
Mrs Bamber wanted to help out at the Volunteer Hospital. «i»I knew the matron. She had nursed Jack (one of her two young boys) when he had peritonitis so I went over and asked if I could help. SHe was glad to see me and said how pleased she would be. I did no nursing, only in extremem cases. I used to go in and fan the poor boys after an operation and I used to go round and have a little chat an hour each day. «/i»Mrs Bamber here goes into details of the more pitiable cases. THen she continues about her sons Cyril and Jack, who helped out as orderlies. «i»Cyril and Jack went with me and were orderlies, and altho' they are mine I must say they did their duty and the sick were so fond of them. One of the 1 L.H. used to often call for the wee laddie and Jack was there at once and would fan him and talk as long as he liked. Poor fellow he did not live long and he did try to get well. He was to have been married when our Volunteers were called out. And then another took to him. He was our
I never went to our tent without saying Goodnight to him. He was such a dear youth and used to say "Oh, those dear boys of yours". He died suddenly, but had sent to the Archdeacon for a present for them, so they both have the Prayer Books with his name in. Jack never cared to go any more. He said all he liked died, so he used to stay with his father and help in other ways.
«/i»[Note: It is not clear who "her sister in England" was. Bessie Bamber had only one surviving sister Mary Ann Cox (born Burchmore) but it is not clear whether or why she was in England in 1900.] «i»
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«b»Published in St Saviour's Magazine (St Saviour's cathedral in Pietermaritzburg where Jack Bamber worshipped). Date not stated.
«/b»«/i»
«b»Obituary. Lieutenant John Walton Bamber
«/b»
«i»The editor of St Saviour's Magazine.
«/i»
Reverend and dear Sir,
«tab»I have been asked to write a short obituary notice of the late Liutenant John Walton Bamber of the Yorkshire Light Infantry, killed in action in France, July 2«sup»nd«/sup», 1916 «i»[Transcriber's Note: There is confusion about this date - the 10«sup»th«/sup» KOYLI saw action on July 1«sup»st«/sup», 1916, on the Somme, and were relieved early on July 2«sup»nd«/sup». It seems much more likely that Jack was killed on July 1«sup»st«/sup» and this is the date recorded on his memorial stone by the Commonwealth War Graves commission«/i»].
«tab»I have known him almost from his infancy. He came under my notice as a very small boy in my Sunday School at Ladysmith, during my incumbency of that parish. Jack, as he was familiarly called, was remarkable for his happy disposition, high spirits, and and playfulness, and was a rather difficult subject to tackle, requiring a good deal of careful tactful management, but he was a boy of honour and truthfulness, and could be trusted. Indeed I have known him frequently own up as the perpetrator of some mischief, even when he knew he would be punished.
«tab»
«tab»It was fortunate that Jack had a mother whom he venerated, who was consequently able to inspire him with a high sense of duty - duty to his God, his Church and his fellows.
«tab»The Bamber family were in Ladysmith during the siege, and with all the Railway employees were sent to the neutral cam "Intombi". Here Mrs Bamber and her two boys Cyril and Jack were exceedingly kind and useful in helping the sick and wounded who were daily sent to the Camp from the battle fields in and around Ladysmith.
«tab»After the Relief, the family left Ladysmith for the City, and Jack and I met again in 1906, when I was appointed as the successor of the Very Reverend Dean Green who was the first Dean of St Saviour's Cathedral. Jack at this time was a young man, and I was pleased to find him taking great interest in St Saviour's Choir and Sunday School. But he was not only a chorister - he was a prominent abd faithful member of the "Guild of the Servers." These sacred things in which he took much delight, led perhaps, as much to his steady growth in Spiritual life as to his ambitious desire to enter the Sacred Ministry, the training for which, in looking back, I may say, began in Ladysmith, continued in Maritzburg (at Maritzburg College where he matriculated), and it was hoped would end in the fulfillment of his great desire. He entered the Natal University, and was accepted by His Lordship the Bishop as a candidate for the Sacred Ministry, and was sent to the Theological College of S. Augustine. [«i»Tra
«tab»Then followed the War in Europe and dear Jack was anxious to follw what he considered "Duty's Call" and to join the Fighting Line. Obtaining permission from his Bishop, he went forth with many of his fellow students to fight for honour, truthfulness and for King and Country. He was offered and accepted a commission in the Yorkshire Light Infantry, and has survived several battles, but he has passed his last earthly trial, and now awaits his Great Commander's award in Paradise.
«tab»We are proud of dear Jack - for does he not rank with those whose sacrifice of life, willingly offered, has been accepted by the "Lord of Hosts," the "God of Battles?"
«tab»Naturally we all feel his loss, and we are sorry and full of sympathy and Christian love for those dear ones he has left behind. May God the Holy Ghost the Comforter fill them with his Divine influence, and sustain and comfort them in their sorrow. Jack will also be remembered in S. Saviour's Cathedral and his name will be enrolled on the brass Memorial Slab as one who endeavoured to do his duty, as one who has "fought a good fight," and is now looking forward to his final reward before The Heavenly Throne on High.
«tab»We offer our heartfelt sympathy to his sorrowing parents, his brother Cyril and his siters, in their bereavement, and we bless and praise God for the example which dear Jack has left us. May he perfect the work begun in him until the Day of Jesus Christ.
J.B.
[«i»Transcriber's note: This obituary was most likely written by Joseph Barker (1834- ) who was Archdeacon Barker of Ladysmith at the time of the siege«/i»]
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On June 28, 1916 he wrote a letter to his sweetheart, a Miss Doris Anderson, in Maidenhead, England. The letter to be delivered to her in the event of ho sdeath. It opens with "My dearest, I am going into action tonight....it will bne my privilege to have died in the cause. My Quartermaster Sergeant has undertaken to send you this letter" and ends with "And so Farewell. Goodbye and God bless you always for ever and ever. Your most loving Jack"
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Information provided to Lesley Mayne by Ken Smith of the Maidenhead Historical Society regarding information int he National Archives:
EXTRACTS FROM THE WAR RECORDS OF LT. JOHN WALTON BAMBER
Date of Birth 16.10.1886 Died 1 July 1916
Mother Mrs. Bamber, 190 Bulwer Road, Durban, Natal - recorded as Next of Kin (although father still alive)
Father aged 72, applied for war pension as a result of his son's death.
Pure European descent, British born
Permanent address St. Augustine's College, Canterbury
Was in Natal Civil Service, Clerk First Class, Natal treasury
Able to ride.
Natal Cadets 1896 - 1902
Joined Natal Medical Corps during period of siege of Ladysmith.receiced medical aid clasp 'D of L'.
Natal Royal regiment MI 1903 - 1906, saw active service during native rebellion 1906.
Natal militia list reserve 1906 - 1912
About January 1908 appointed 2nd. Lt. First Reserve
January 1912 resigned on entering theological college, Canterbury
Wanted Cavalry 16-17«sup»th«/sup» Lancers or Artillery
Applied for temporary commission 4.12.1914
Certified by Arthur M. Knight (Bishop), warden of St. Augustine's College.
Height 72 inches; chest 36.5 inches; weight 162 lbs.
29.1.1919 Plaque and scroll sent to Mrs. Bamber c/o J.C.Symonds Esq of Durban address.
Letter from G.E.G. Greening, 73 Osnaburgh Street, Regents Park, London seeking information on his death "whose wife is a relative".
Acting captain of 'D' company.
Report by Pte. I.S. Barrett 22881 "in the front line to the left of a German machine gun post, Capt. Bamber was killed by a rifle bullet".
Telegram handed in at Maidenhead Post Office 6 July 1916 _ "Can you give information about Lieut. John Walton Bamber 10«sup»th«/sup» King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry officially reported killed Fricourt area. Anderson, 9 Castle Hill, Maidenhead.
£81.11.10 paid to Estate Administrator , Henry Sidney salter, of Messrs, Fladgate and Co., Solicitors, 18-19 Pall Mall, SW.
Acting on behalf of Cox and Co.,of 16 Charing Cross as attornies for Bamber's father. Total assets £650.5.9.
Assets and medals to father William.
Aunt Mrs. Bamber, 271 High Road, South Tottenham, called.
Letter from Mrs. F. Adele Anderson 5.10.16, to the War Office :- "Dear Sir, I am writing you with reference to the late Lieut. J.W.Bamber of the KOYLI who was killed in France on July 1«sup»st«/sup». His mother has written from S. Africa saying she has received no words from you or anyone about his clothes and other effects which he left in france. It appears after he fell about 26 yards from the German trenches he was seen by several men going forward. He was never seen again. His body was never found. It is suggested the place was shelled and all the poor boys' bodies buried or blown to pieces - so of course everything on his person would be lost, but were other things - which they would like to have. As his people are in S. Africa they have asked me if I could do anything to find out about them and letting them know. So if you can help me I shall be obliged. If I am not enquiring at the right place will you also put me right."
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1886 - 1916 (29 years)
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