Richard Gosling

Richard (Dick) was the son of Herbert and Mary Gosling (née Knowles). His parents were married at Nottingham St Mary on 21 August 1871 (J/A/S Nottingham). They had eleven children two of whom, Ada and Lavinia, died in infancy. With the exception of the youngest child, Ellen, who was baptised at Daybrook St Paul, they were all baptised at Hucknall Torkard St Mary Magdalene. The chldren were: Elizabeth Ann b. 1872 bap. 20 June 1877; Valentine birth registered 1874 (J/F/M Nottingam) bap. 20 June 1877; Ada b. 1876 bap. 20 June 1877 d. 1877 (A/M/J Basford); George b. 8 December 1877 bap. 25 December 1877; William b. 2 October 1879 bap. 24 November 1879; Richard b. 1881 bap. 22 September 1889; Thomas b. 10 February 1883 bap. 3 March 1884; Herbert b, 1885 bap. 22 September 1889; Arthur b. 17 March 1888 bap. 22 September 1889; Lavinia Gertrude b. 1891 bap. 21 June 1891 d. 1891 (J/A/S Baford) and Ellen b. 31 October 1895 bap. 9 February 1896. In 1891 census Herbert and Mary were living in Arnold with their eight surviving children, Elizabeth Ann (19), Valentine (17), George (13), William (11), Richard (9), Thomas (8), Herbert (5) and Arthur (3). Lavinia was born later that year but died in infancy and the youngest child, Ellen, was born in 1895. The family was living at Redhill, Arnold, by 1901 but had moved to Mansfield Road, Daybrook, by 1911; only Herbert and Mary's youngest children, Arthur and Ellen, were still living at home. Richard was recorded on the 1901 Census as a railway cleaner and living as a boarder at 94 Curzon Street, Netherfield. He enlisted in the Grenadier Guards later that year nominating his parents and two siblings as his next of kin: Valentine Gosling, Burford Street, Arnold and Elizabeth Ann Pringle, Milton Street, Edinburgh. Richard joined Nottinghamshire Constabulary as a police constable after he transferred to the Army Reserve and served initially at Arnold Police Station. Richard married Mabel Ethel Parker in 1906 (J/F/M Spilsby Lincolnshire). Mabel was born in Derbyshire on 23 January 1879 but by the time of the 1901 census was living with her parents on Church Street, Arnold. Richard and Mabel had three children: Chrystal Audrey Parker b. Sutton in Ashfield 26 August 1907 (J/A/S Mansfield), Wilfred Henry Parker b. Wellow 25 March 1909 (A/M/J Southwell) and Stanley Richard Parker (otherwise Richard Stanley Parker) b. Wellow 12 May 1913. Their first child was born in Sutton in Ashfield in 1908 and it is possible that Richard had transferred from Arnold to a police station in Sutton in Ashfield. However, by 1911 he and his wife were living in Wellow, Nottinghamshire, with their two children, Chrystal and Wilfred. Their youngest child, Stanley, was born two years later. At the time of Richard's death in 1916 his wife and children were living at 43 City Road, Beeston, Nottingham, but the later CWGC record gave her address as ‘Woodthorpe’ Westfield Drive, Skegness, Lincolnshire. By 1939, though, Mabel was living at 23 Glendon Drive, Sherwood, Nottingham, with her three unmarried children; Audrey (sic) who was secretary to a woollen manufacturer's managing director, Wilfred who was incapacitated and Richard (sic) a tailor's salesman. Mabel died on 24 September 1976; she was still living at 23 Glendon Drive. Audrey, of the same address, died on 24 September 1983, Wilfred in 1982 (J/F/M Nottingham) and Richard on 16 May 1982; he was then living at 2 Nelson Road, Daybrook, Nottingham. Of Richard's family: His mother Mary died on 3 September 1933 (buried Redhill Cemetery), she was living on Mansfield Road, Daybrook. Elizabeth Ann (Pringle) was living in Edinburgh when she died on 22 March 1954. Valentine may have emigrated to America and died there. George probably died in 1943, William probably died on 11 September 1942, Thomas in 1967, Herbert in 1954 and Arthur in 1971. Ellen Webber, her husband Frederick, their children and her widowed father, Herbert, were living together in Arnold in 1939 when the England and Wales Register was compiled. Herbert died in 1945 and Ellen Webber on 32 September 1976; she was living in Daybrook.

Labourer (railway cleaner) before enlisting in April 1901 in the Grenadier Guards. After transferring to the Army Reserve he was employed as a police constable with Nottinghamshire Constabulary. He was mobilized on 5 August 1914.

Army Service Record at RHQ (Archives) Grenadier Guards. He originally enlisted in April 1901 when he was 19 yrs of age on a short service engagement then transferred to the Army Reserve (rank of private), extending his reserve liability for another 4 years from 11 April 1913. He was mobilized on 5 August 1914 and posted to the 2nd Bn Grenadier Guards. He was promoted lance-corporal 8 February 1915, corporal 19 September 1915, lance-sergeant 11 December 1915, acting-sergeant 12 January 1916 and to sergeant on 23 April 1916. He served in Franmce from 23 November 1914. Richard was killed in action on 15 September 1916 and buried in the Guillemont Road Cemetery, Guillemont, France (grave ref. Plot I. Row B. Grave 5). His grave is next but one to Raymond Asquith (Lieutenant Grenadier Guards, DOW 15 September 1916, grave ref. I.B.3), son of the former prime minister, Herbert Henry Asquith (1908-1916). Richard had served in the Army for 15 years 158 days: Home Service 13years 225days, and France 1year 298days. He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. The battle of Flers-Courcelette opened on 15th September 1916. The 2nd Guards Brigade of the Guards Division, attacked the Triangle and Serpentine at 6.20am and by 7.15am they had reached their objectives, the 1st Guards Brigate also reached theirs at about the same time, having suffered much from heavy machine gun fire. The 2nd Grenadier Guards (in the 1st Guards Brigade) emerged from Ginchy at about 7.30am in support and almost immediately came under fire from an unoccupied part of the Serpentine Trench. However they skilfully bombed and fought their way forward obtaining a foothold, thus uniting the two Guards Brigades together. It was during this advance and attack on part of the Serpentine Trench that Richard was killed in action when only aged 32 years.

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 14 October 1916: ‘Gosling. Killed in action, September 15th, Sergeant Richard Gosling (Dick), Grenadier Guards, beloved husband of Mabel Gosling, 43, City-road, Beeston. Peace, perfect peace. From his sorrowing wife and children.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 25 October 1916: ‘Gosling. Killed in action, September 15th, 1916, Sergt. Richard Gosling (Dick), Grenadier Guards, dearly loved son of Mr and Mrs Gosling, Daybrook. For two long years he did his best, God grant him now eternal rest. Father, mother, brothers, and sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) His widow was granted a pension of 28 shilling and 9 pence commencing 9th April 1917. Richard's name was added to the Hucknall memorial c2012.