Personal Details
Born: 19 November 1892 in Picton, New South Wales, Australia.
Family: He was the eldest of seven children born to William Bamber, a cheese factor and his wife Eva May (nee Stafford). He married Alice Beatrice Smith in 1919 in Chester. The couple had a daughter, Joan, born in 1921.
Residence: In 1901 his family were living in Grindley Brook, near Whitchurch, Shropshire. By 1911 they had moved to 48 Station Road, Whitchurch. His address in 1939 was 5 Brook Road, Whitchurch. This continued to be his home until his death in 1974.
Employment: In 1911 he was a clerk in his father`s business and by 1939 a cheese manufacturer and factor.
Died: On 13 October 1974 at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Shrewsbury, Shropshire and buried 17 October the same year in Whitchurch cemetery.
Military Details
Regiment: King`s Liverpool Regiment (previously the Territorial Force)
Rank: Private
Service Number: 256459 (previously 4981)
Date of Enlistment: 17 July 1915
Date of Discharge: 15 March 1919
Reason for Discharge: Disembodied on Demobilisation
Other Information: His brother, Roy Marston Bamber also served in WW1. He was taken prisoner of war on 30 November 1917 at Ephey and repatriated a year later, arriving at Dover on 22 November 1918.
Oscar was awarded the Campaign medals (Victory and British War Medals)
The British War Medal (also known as 'Squeak') was a silver or bronze medal awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920. Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. Around 110,000 of a bronze version were issued mainly to Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps. The front (obv or obverse) of the medal depicts the head of George V. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.
The Allied Victory Medal (also known as 'Wilfred') was issued by each of the allies. It was decided that each of the allies should each issue their own bronze victory medal with a similar design, similar equivalent wording and identical ribbon. The British medal was designed by W. McMillan. The front depicts a winged classical figure representing victory. Approximately 5.7 million victory medals were issued. Interestingly, eligibility for this medal was more restrictive and not everyone who received the British War Medal ('Squeak') also received the Victory Medal ('Wilfred'). However, in general, all recipients of 'Wilfred' also received 'Squeak' and all recipients of The 1914 Star or The 1914/1915 Star (also known as 'Pip') also received both 'Squeak' and 'Wilfred'. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.