Photo: B. Chandler

Netley Hospital

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Arthur Ainsley Gosling was born July 7th and baptised July 13th at Lucknow, Bengal, India. One of 3 known children he had an elder brother and a younger sister. His father John Crago Gosling originated from St. Germans, Cornwall where he was baptised, December 27th 1835, his mother Julia Ellen Maune was a British subject, born at Valletta, Malta, daughter of a military man. John and Julia Ellen met and were married in 1859 at Portsea Island, Hampshire, after moving northwards to Yorkshire where John Crago Gosling Jnr was born at Sheffield, in 1870, exactly why they left England for India is unknown, however, they returned to Yorkshire where Maria Louisa Gosling was born in 1879 at Halifax. By 1881 they were living at Shibden Industrial School for Catholic Boys, Halifax, which provided industrial training and residential care for destitute and vagrant children, Arthur’s father was the superintendent, his wife, matron. Having left Yorkshire ten years later they can be found living in the parish of All Saints, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, (area Pilgrim Street and surroundings). Julia Ellen Gosling nee Maune died in 1890, the census of 1891 is almost illegible, John Crago Gosling Snr, occupation illegible, was assisted by his son John Crago Jnr, Arthur Ainsley Gosling was employed as an accountant’s clerk, Maria Louisa a scholar. John Crago Snr remarried in 1895 to Katie Alderson of Newcastle born 1864 and lived at 39, Clarence Crescent in 1901, employed as a wholesale grocer’s cashier/book keeper, only Maria Louis was still living at home. Katie Gosling nee Alderson died in 1906, aged 42 years, John Crago Gosling Snr aged 73 years, September 11th 1908.

Prior to his father and step-mother’s death Arthur Ainsley Gosling was married in 1904 to Isabella Marshall born in 1887 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and with whom he had 5 children, Elizabeth Ann 1904, John William March 18th 1906 died in 1911, Beatrice Louise 1909 died 1911, Ellen 1910 died in 1910 and Mary Isabella 1912. In 1911 they occupied 5 rooms at 1, Foster Terrace, Stella, Blaydon-on-Tyne, Arthur was employed as a wire rope-maker’s accountant, and had moved to 166, Norfolk Road by 1913.

He enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland in 1914, assigned as Private 4884 to the 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers a unit of the Territorial Force with its HQ at St. George’s Drill Hall, Northumberland Road, Newcastle, the base of Companies A to H. They left for the Western Front in April 1915, landing in France and moving immediately to Belgium, where as part of the 149th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division, and participated during the 2nd Battle of Ypres before moving south to the Somme. During 1916-1917 the Territorials were renumbered, Private 4884 was re-assigned as Private 37239, drafted to the Western Front and posted to the 14th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in the field. The 14th was a Pioneer Battalion part of Kitchener’s Third New Army attached to the 21st Division. In 1916 they saw action on the Somme during the Battle of Morval where the division captured Geudecourt, in 1917 during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Arras Offensive April 9th-May 16th, again in Belgium participating during the 3rd Battle of Ypres followed by the Cambrai Operations. March 28th 1918 when the Germans attacked again on the Somme they were moved to the sector before heading north, in action during the Battle of the Lys, the Battle of Aisne, the Hindenburg Line and the final advance in Picardy. At the time of the Armistice, November 11th 1918 they were near Berlaimont.

The now Lance Corporal 37239 Arthur Ainsley Gosling, either wounded or suffering from disease, was shipped back to the UK, date unknown. Arriving at Southampton, he was admitted to the tented Red Cross Hospital, within the grounds of Netley Hospital, where he died, cause unspecified, July 15th 1918. The Army at the request of his wife and family arranged for his body to be transported home, his family however would have paid the cost. Lance Corporal Arthur Ainsley Gosling Northumberland Fusiliers was buried within St. Dominic’s churchyard, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, July 19th 1918, grave B. U. 731. He was 42 years of age.

His widow received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their 2 surviving children also his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 5, St. Martin’s Yard, Newgate Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Isabella in the electoral role of 1923 had reverted to the surname Marshall, daughter Isabella is listed as Gosling. She remarried in 1933 to Matthew Imray, Isabella Imray-Gosling nee Marshall died aged 79 years in 1966 registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.

Isabella’s brother William also served during WW1 and was killed September 20th 1917 in Belgium.

It should be noted that the CWGC list Private Gosling’s mother as Ellen Agatha Gosling, marriage, census and death documents have her listed either as Julia Ellen or Ellen.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Arthur Ainsley Gosling has not been found on a North East War Memorial.

The CWGC entry for Lance Corporal Gosling