Noel Gambetta

GAMBETTA, Noel- – – – SPC 1912

DoB:– – 1898

Father:– – Christopher Leon Gambetta, Education Department Melbourne

Mother:– – Margaret Ann, nee Grant

Service No:– 99

Rank:– – Private

Unit:- – 24th Battalion, HQ Signal Section

Noel Gambetta enlisted in the AIF on 28 April 1915. He was a single man, aged 18 years and two months, five feet six and a half inches tall, with a dark complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His occupation at the time was clerk.

He embarked from Melbourne for overseas service on 8 May 1915, aboard the Euripides, arriving in Egypt. From Egypt he proceeded to Gallipoli. On 8 September he sustained an injury to his back, resulting in synovitis (inflammation and joint pain). He was transferred to Hospital Ship Maheno which took him to Malta for treatment.

Private Gambetta rejoined his unit at Gallipoli on 25 October. He was killed in action at Lone Pine on 29 November 1915, at the age of 18 years. He was buried at Browns Dip South, row 3 grave 12, 500 yards south of Anzac Cove. He is remembered at Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli.

Two of Noel’s brothers enlisted for service in the war, Charles Grant (Service #10252) and- Archibald Leonard (Service #92). Neither of these boys attended St Patrick’s College. There was another brother, Keith (SPC 1911-1912) who did not enlist.