John Gosnay

John was born in 1897, one of nine children of Smith and Lydia Gosnay. The family lived at 30, Cluntergate, Horbury, where, in 1911, 7 family members (2 children had died) shared 4 rooms. Smith Gosnay worked as a coal hewer, while his son John went to work at Horbury Wagon Works as a steam hammer driver, before enlisting in August 1915 at the age of 18 as a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (Service number 35774).

By June 1917 the second battalion was holding the line at the furthest point west of the whole western front, just by Nieuwpoort on the Belgian coast south of Ostend. The area between the two front lines was reported as being marshy with sticky mud and barbed wire half hidden in the water. Periodically the battalion came under fire from enemy artillery.

The regimental diary reports that from 12 noon on 27th June to noon on 28th 1 officer was wounded, 2 other ranks were killed and 3 were wounded, all from shellfire. From 12 noon on 28th June to noon on 29th 7 other ranks were killed and one wounded, and the company learned that 3 other wounded soldiers had died of their wounds. One of those who died was John William Gosnay. He is buried at Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery.

John’s death was remembered in the September 1917 edition of St Peter’s church magazine, and his photograph appeared in the Wakefield Express of 21st July 1917.