William Gosling

He seized a live mortar bomb and saved the whole detachment.

William Gosling VC (1892–1945) was a British Army artilleryman whose quick action near Arras, France, on 5 April 1917 saved his trench-mortar detachment. Serving as a Sergeant in V/51 Trench Mortar Battery, Royal Field Artillery, attached to the 51st (Highland) Division, he confronted a bomb that had fallen just ten yards from its mortar after a faulty cartridge. He lifted its buried nose, unscrewed the fuze and threw it aside, where it immediately exploded.

Born at Wanborough, Wiltshire, on 15 August 1892, Gosling served in the Territorial artillery before emigrating to Canada. He returned to Britain after the outbreak of the First World War, rejoined the 3rd Wessex Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, and went to France in May 1915. King George V presented his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on 21 July 1917.

After discharge in 1919, he returned to civilian work and became a tenant farmer at Summerhouse Farm, Wroughton. During the Second World War he served in the Home Guard, attaining the rank of Major. His later home-defence service was distinct from his First World War frontline action as a Sergeant. He died at Wroughton on 12 February 1945, aged 52, and was buried in the churchyard extension of St John and St Helen.

Victoria Cross citation No. 645112 Sjt. William Gosling, R.F.A.

“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.

Sjt. Gosling sprang out, lifted the nose of the bomb, which had sunk into the ground, unscrewed the fuze and threw it on the ground, where it immediately exploded.

This very gallant and prompt action undoubtedly saved the lives of the whole detachment.”

The London Gazette, issue 30130, supplement page 5866, printed 14 June 1917 (supplement to the issue of 12 June 1917).