William Gosling was born 15 th August 1892 in Wanborough, a village near Swindon, Wiltshire, England. However he was to spend most of his life in the small town of Wroughton, a few miles to the South West of his birth place.
He was the son of Albert and Elizabeth Gosling his mother being widowed by 1911. After a basic education in local schools, William worked for a short time on the farm that his mother ran in Swindon Road, Wroughton. Like many of his generation, at the age of 18 he emigrated and left England as a young man and found work in Canada where he remained, staying with an Aunt and Uncle in Winnipeg. He worked as a grain silo worker, a fireman on the Canadian Pacific Railway, and a lumberjack. He returned to England at the outbreak of the First World War, having given up a good job and paid for his return ticket. His reason for returning to England was that ‘he was eager to be in the thick of it’.
On his return home in December 1914, he enlisted in the 3rd Wessex Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery, Swindon detachment.
He was soon on his travels again, this time going to France with his unit in May 1915. From that time till the end of the war, he was in the thick of the fighting. His experiences including the early operations around Arras, the first battle of Vimy Ridge, the Somme offensive, with the brilliant engagement at High Wood, the Ancre Offensive and the fighting at Beaumont Hamal and Coureolette. It was in the second battle of Vimy Ridge on 5th April 1915 that he gained his Victoria Cross when he was serving in a trench mortar battery attached to the 51st (Highland) Division near Arras. Acting as Battery Sergeant, he was in charge of a heavy trench mortar. When a faulty cartridge fell only 10 yards from the mortar Sergeant Gosling leapt out of his trench and lifted the nose of the bomb, which had already sunk into the ground.
He quickly unscrewed the fuse and threw it to the ground, where it exploded. This prompt action saved the lives of the detachment.
His Citation reads:- “For most conspicuous bravery when in charge of a heavy trench mortar. Owing to a faulty cartridge, the bomb, after discharge, 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”.
William Gosling was initiated into the Royal Great Western Lodge 1550 on 3rd November 1919, unfortunately the Lodge closed on 30th June 1976.
If you wish to read the full storyplease click on this link No34 Victory Cross Winners Vol 1