William Gosling

Sergeant, Third Wessex Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

VC
Register No.
467 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank
Sergeant all Sergeants →
Unit
Third Wessex Brigade, Royal Field Artillery all Royal Field Artillery VCs →
Date of action
5 April 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
Conflict / campaign
First World War
London Gazette
14th June, 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
Born
15th August, 1892 at Wanborough, Swindon, Wiltshire
Died
12th February, 1945 at Wroughton, Wiltshire
Memorial / grave
not known

Digest of citation

On 5th April, 1917 near Arras, France, a bomb which had a faulty cartridge, fell 10 yards from the Mortar. Sergeant Gosling sprang out, lifted the nose of the bomb which had sunk into the ground, unscrewed the fuse and threw it on the ground where it immediately exploded. This very gallant action undoubtedly saved the lives of the whole detachment

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

GOSLING, William. (reg No. 467).

Sergeant. Third Wessex Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.

London Gazetted on 14th June, 1917.

Born on 15th August, 1892 at Wanborough, Swindon, Wiltshire.

Died on 12th February, 1945 at Wroughton, Wiltshire.

Memorial not known.

Digest of Citation reads: On 5th April, 1917 near Arras, France, a bomb which had a faulty cartridge, fell 10 yards from the Mortar. Sergeant Gosling sprang out, lifted the nose of the bomb which had sunk into the ground, unscrewed the fuse and threw it on the ground where it immediately exploded. This very gallant action undoubtedly saved the lives of the whole detachment.

Additional information:. Later in his career he became a Major.

Additional information

Later in his career he became a Major

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Alf recorded the memorial as: not known

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