Oswald Lambkin

William Oswald Henry Lambkin, (sometimes referred to as William, sometimes as Oswald), was born at Petersham in 1894 to William Lambkin and Fanny (nee Austin).[1] William and Fanny married in 1887 and had several children, including Victor (1893) and Arthur (1892). The surname is sometimes spelled Lambkin.Fanny then married John T Parker in 1903 at Rockdale.[2],  (Had her first husband died?). Subsequently they moved to Pittwater Road, Brookvale.

In WWI, Oswald enlisted on 10 May 1915, giving his mother’s address. He was private 2165 in 3 Bn 6 Reinf. He saw service at Gallipoli, but contracted dysentery, and was invalided out of the army on 2 May 1916.In 1919 he married at Manly Edna Florence Ginger [3]. He worked on construction sites, and was employed in construction of the sewer at Balgowlah in 1924 when the shaft collapsed. He was rescued by his workmate Matthew Campbell, who was awarded the rarely-conferred Edward Medal for gallantry.

Oswald’s recuperation at Manly Hospital was slow [4]. It may be that he did not fully recover from his injuries, although he was listed as a construction worker in the 1930 Electoral Roll.

He died on 9 June 1933 at his home, Berea, 70 Windsor Avenue, Croydon Park [5].

He and Edna had two children, Adeline and Leslie (was he Leslie George?) [6]. His mother, Mrs Fanny Parker, died on 30 April 1918 and was buried at Rookwood Cemetery [7]. She had been living at ‘Lone Pine’, Pittwater Road.

[1] NSW BDM 26/1887.

[2] NSW BDM 1951/1903.

[3] NSW BDM 2943/1919.

[4] Evening News 28 October 1924, p8.

[5] SMH 10 June 1933, p11, 12.

[6] SMH 10 June 1933, p11, 12.

[7] SMH 1 May 1918, p9.