Casualty of the Boer War,Norman was the son of Percival Lewis Hambro and his second wife,Arabella Marianne Norman. He was killed in action at Talana Hill, Dundee District, KwaZulu-Natal. Lt Hambro survived two wounds and made it to the crest of the hill, only to be cut down by the British artillery shrapnel. The British guns shelled their own men before an order could be given to "Stop firing".He was 22.

He served with the 1st Bn., The King's Royal Rifle Corps.

He was educated at Farnborough, Hampshire and Eton.

There are memorials to him at:
Farnborough School, Hampshire-Old Boys 1899-1901
Eton College Chapel Lupton's Chantry

There was at one time another memorial in Winchester Cathedral.


His half-brother,Sir Percival Otway Hambro also fought in the Boer War.

Possible birth record:
Births Mar 1878 Hambro Male Kensington 1a 196

1881 Census

Norman J. Hambro
Age: 3
Father's Name: Persicel L. Hambro
Mother's Name: Arabella M. Hambro
Where born: London, London, Middlesex, England

1881 census


Name: Norman J. Hambro
Age: 3
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1878
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Persicel L. Hambro
Mother's Name: Arabella M. Hambro
Gender: Male
Where born: London, London, Middlesex, England

Civil parish: Milston
County: Wiltshire
Country: England

Address: Brigmerston House

Household Members:
Persicel L. Hambro 45
Arabella M. Hambro 35
Grace M. Hambro 10
Dorothy E. Hambro 4
Norman J. Hambro 3
Bertram E. Hambro 1
Helen A. Beadon 26
Gertrude M. Beadon 22
Halkilda Jakubouska 28
Elizabeth Warner 58
Agnes Collins 22
Eliza Topper 20
Clara A. Payne 34
Lydia H. Southy 22
Ellen Dunford 38
Emma J. Jacobs 19
James Payne 38


Members of the Hambro Dynasty who made the Supreme Sacrifice in the service of their country:

2nd Lt Percival Hambro

Casualty of the Great War

Bertram Emil Hambro

Casualty of the Great War

Major Robert Alexander Hambro

Casualty of WWII



Photographs kindly provided by the Talana Museum.