Harry Goslin
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 November 1909 | ||
| Place of birth | Willington, County Durham, England | ||
| Date of death | 18 December 1943 (aged 34) | ||
| Place of death | Sangro, Italy | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1930–1939 | Bolton Wanderers | 306 | (23) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Henry Goslin MC, (9 November 1909 – 18 December 1943) was an English footballer who played as a defender for Bolton Wanderers for the whole of his professional career.
Born in
On 8 April 1939, with
The majority of the team were posted to the 53rd (Bolton) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, and Goslin, now promoted to sergeant, and the other players saw action in France leading up to the withdrawals at Dunkirk. Back in England Goslin was commissioned Lieutenant for his actions in the withdrawal. The regiment were sent to East Anglia to patrol potential enemy landing sites and Goslin was again selected for England, again to play Scotland, twice, as well as Wales.
In the summer of 1942 the regiment set sail for
The 53rd Regiment then joined in the invasion of Italy, making their way from Taranto to Foggia without much trouble. They then took part in the battle to take control of the River Sangro crossing. Fighting took place for over a month and a number of Goslin's fellow Bolton players were removed. On 14 December 1943, a mortar bomb exploded in the tree under which Goslin had made his observation point. He was hit in the back by shrapnel and wood and mortally wounded although he fought for life for a few more days. He left a wife and two children, one of whom, his son Bob, became a senior figure in the Bolton police as well as in South Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire. He died in August 2008.[1]
As a mark of respect, the Bolton players lined up before the centre stand of Burnden Park for a minute's silence and wearing black armbands before their New Year's Day War League game. Goslin and Walter Sidebottom were the only team members to die during the war. Goslin is buried at the Sangro River War Cemetery.[2]
See also
References
- Tim Purcell and Mike Gething (1996). Wartime Wanderers. Mainstream Sport. ISBN 1-84018-583-X.
The Wonderful Wanderers author-Jeff Williamson 2015
Internet
- ^ Chaudhari, Saiqa (27 August 2008). "Former police chief dies after illness". The Bolton News. Retrieved 10 September 2008.
- ^ "Casualty Details". cwgc.org. Retrieved 10 September 2008.
