Name
Edward Oliver Goss
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/10/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
4th Bn., attached 10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY
Plot XIV, Row H, Grave 12.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Derby Road Baptist Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford, Grammar School Book of Remembrance
Pre War
Son of George and Rose/Rosetta (nee RIDGEWAY) GOSS; husband of Helena Agnes (nee PICKETT) GOSS of Watford.
His parents married 1881 in the Watford district. They emigrated to Sydney, Australia, 23 March 1920 aboard P & O Berrima, accompanied by two daughters. George possibly died 1932 in Hurstville, New South Wales; Rosetta died 1937 in Rickdale, New South Wales.
Edward was born 15 May 1893 in Watford. He attended first Callow Land Infants’ School, Watford; then Callowland Board School from 8 January 1900 to 11 October 1901. He transferred to Alexandra School, Watford, from 21 October 1901 to 22 May 1903; and finally Watford Grammar School from September 1905 to July 1909. He was registered as a temporary boy clerk in the Edinburgh Gazette dated 7 September 1909. He married 1917 in the Watford district, and resided in Watford. Helena never remarried, and died 29 June 1982 in Bournemouth, Hants, aged 87.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1901 Census, aged 7 he lived in Watford, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1911 Census, a Civil Service assistant clerk aged 17, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Wartime Service
He mobilised with the 15th (County of London) Battalion London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles) 4 August 1914, Private 1619.
After seeing active service in France, returned to England for commission in February 1917. Was gazetted to the Queen’s and went to Italy, afterwards returning to France, where he died of wounds received in action.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 17 March 1915; his widow of Torquay, Devon, applied for his medals.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“GOSS, EDWARD OLIVER. School period: September, 1905, to July, 1909. Second Lieutenant, Royal West Surrey Regiment (The Queen's). Mobilised with Civil Service Rifles, 4th August, 1914; after seeing active service in France, returned to England for commission in February, 1917; gazetted to the Queen's and went to Italy, afterwards returning to France; died of wounds received in action, 14th October, 1918.”
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Edward in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 19 October 1918; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 11 October 1919 and 18 October 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
