A village with a big story
Selected Biographies
Gostling, George Stafford – Born: East Stoneham, Suffolk in 1884. Parents: George Matthew Gostling (Manager of Flax Mill) and Alice [née Catt]. Family Connections: Brother to William Aubrey Catt Gostling [b1887] and Samuel Sidney Gostling [b1890]; also, brother-in-law of Harry Thomas Betts [b1891] and William Middleditch [b1881]. Home Lyston Villa, Liston, Essex (1891), Bridge Street, Long Melford (1901), Fox Cottages, Stanningfield, Suffolk (1911), emigrated to Canada, living at 332 Gore Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia [1917]. Occupation: Thatcher’s Labourer (1911). Service Record: George was a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.[1]
Gostling, Samuel Sidney – Born: Liston, Essex on 16.6.1890.[2] Parents: George Matthew Gostling (Manager of Flax Mill) and Alice [née Catt]. Family Connections: Brother to George Stafford Gostling [b1884] and William Aubrey Gostling [b1887]; also, brother-in-law of Harry Thomas Betts [b1891] and William Middleditch [b1881]. Home: Lyston Villa, Liston, Essex (1891), Bridge Street, Long Melford (1901), Fox Cottages, Stanningfield, Suffolk (1911), Mill House, Cockfield, Suffolk [1915], 21 Golf Links Road, Haltemprice, Yorkshire (1939). Occupation: Cycle and Insurance Agent for Liverpool Victoria Insurance (1911), Corn and Insurance Agent and General Merchant [1915], Craft Instructor to the Blind and Special Constable (1939). Married: Blanche May Anniss in 1912. Service Record: Samuel was conscripted on 10.12.1915 as Gnr.38917 with 6th Motor Machine Gun Battery, Machine Gun Corps. He was posted to France from 25.6.1917 to 2.12.1917, receiving gunshot wounds to the right thigh on 24.11.1917. On returning from France, he transferred to 32nd Reserve Company, MGC, being issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 3.10.1918 as ‘no longer physically fit for war service’.[3] Death: Hull, Yorkshire in 1975.
Gostling, William Aubrey Catt – Born: Liston, Essex on 3.5.1887.[4] Parents: George Matthew Gostling (Manager of Flax Mill) and Alice [née Catt]. Family Connections: Brother to George Stafford Gostling [b1884] and Samuel Sidney Gostling [b1890]; also, brother-in-law of Harry Thomas Betts [b1891] and William Middleditch [b1881]. Home: Lyston Villa, Liston, Essex (1891), Bridge St, Long Melford (1901) Fox Cottages, Stanningfield, Suffolk (1911), 2 Pump Farm Cottages, Brentwood, Essex (1939). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911 to 1939). Married: Lily Rolfe in 1916. Service Record: William is recorded as Lance Corporal, later Sgt.14218 with 7th [Service] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, posted to France from 30.5.1915 as part of 35th Brigade, 12th [Eastern] Division. He transferred as Sgt.16708 to the Machine Gun Corps before his discharge in March 1919.[5] Died: Havering, Essex on 3.5.1970.
Selected Notes – [1] Library and Archives Canada [ref: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 3668–2]. [2] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Haltemprice, Yorkshire. [3] For details of 6th MMG’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/246/5-6]. See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: B21299], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. 4] Date of birth from Death Index. [5] For details of 7th Suffolk’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/1852/1-4]. Also see Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].
Related Biographies
Betts, Harry Thomas – Born: Stanningfield, Suffolk on 26.5.1891.[1] Parents: William Betts (Borough Council Roadman) and Emma [née Mortlock]. Family Connections: Brother-in-law of George Stafford Gostling [b1884], William Aubrey Catt Gostling [b1887] and Samuel Sidney Gostling [b1890]. Home: Bury Road, Stanningfield, Suffolk (1901, 1911), 5 Fox Cottages, Thingoe, Suffolk (1939) Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911 to 1939). Married: Violet Goldsbury Gostling in 1914. Service Record: Harry enlisted as Pte.22715 with Suffolk Regiment, later being transferred as Pte.13251 to the Machine Gun Corps. MR and MIC Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in 1984.[2] Died: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk in 1984.
Middleditch, William – Born: Stanningfield, Suffolk on 20.9.1881.[3] Parents: William Middleditch 1835 (Agricultural Labourer) and Maria 1836. Family Connections: Brother-in-law of George Stafford Gostling [b1884], William Aubrey Catt Gostling [b1887] and Samuel Sidney Gostling [b1890]. Home: Stanningfield Green, Stanningfield, Suffolk (1891), Long Yard, Stanningfield (1911), Eastern Cottage, The Street, Thingoe, Suffolk (1939). Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911 to 1939). Married: Sybil Marion Gostling in 1912. Service Record: William enlisted as in 1901 as Tpr.5436 with 2nd Dragoon Guards [Queen’s Bays], being posted to South Africa and seeing action at the Battle of Leeukop in 1902, taking part in further engagements in Cape Colony, Transvaal, and the Orange Free State during the Second Anglo-Boer War. He returned to England in 1908 where he was placed on the Army Reserve, being mobilised on the declaration of War in August 1914. Following his medical examination, he was considered ‘physically unfit for further military service’ and given his discharge.[4] Died: Stanningfield, Suffolk on 21.1.1966 (date of death taken his gravestone in All Saints Churchyard, Bradfield Combust, Suffolk.)
Related Notes – [1] Date of birth from the 1939 Register. [2] Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [3] Date of birth from the 1939 Register. [4] British Army World War I Pension Records 1914-1920.
Genealogical Table
