MY WAR DEAD
HAMBLEY, John Richard - died 1st November 1918.
John Richard Hambley was born in Sunbury, Middlesx, in mid-1879, his parents being John Sherer Hambley, an engineer, and his wife who was born Caroline Dewley. His father died in 1884 and John later worked as a grocer's assistant in Slough and Reading, where he was living in 1911; he does not appear to have married.
John's service record has not survived but he is known to have served in the Royal Army Service Corps in which he enlisted at Grove Park, Lewisham, and became a lance corporal. He died on 1st November 1918, aged 39, and is buried at the St Pol British Cemetery, France. It is not known how John was killed but St Pol was the site of a military hospital at the time of his death.
John's medal card indicates that he did not see active service before 1916 as he was not awarded either 'Star'; he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. The Register of Soldiers' effects records that sums due to John Hambley were paid to his sister, named as Constance K Howlett, half-brothers William and Fred Nash, and Frederick L Edwards, probably the husband of his half sister, Caroline Nash.
John Richard Hambley was a half-brother to various of my 3rd cousins, three times removed.