Leslie Gossage
Sir Ernest Leslie Gossage | |
---|---|
Leslie Gossage in London, 1945 | |
Born | Mentioned in Despatches (5) (France)Officer of the Legion of Honour | 3 February 1891
Early life
Gossage was educated at Rugby School[1] and Trinity College, Cambridge. Whilst at Trinity, he joined the Cambridge University Contingent of the Officers Training Corps (OTC), serving in the Artillery section.[2]
British Army
Pre-War
In 1910, Gossage was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery while still a first-year student, a considerable accolade. He was commissioned as an officer of the Special Reserve (SR) to ensure he would not be mobilised into service until he had completed his studies and his commission was confirmed in 1911.[3] On graduating in 1912, he was transferred from the Reserve into regular service and began his professional career.[4]
First World War
When the
Following a promotion to
On 1 April 1918, the
Royal Air Force
Inter-War
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Air_Council_in_session_WWII_IWM_CH_966.jpg/220px-Air_Council_in_session_WWII_IWM_CH_966.jpg)
At the end of the war, Gossage was given a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force. He became
In 1935 he was briefly appointed Air Officer Commanding (AOC)
Second World War
During the
Post-War
Following his retirement from regular service with the Royal Air Force, Gossage agreed to be re-employed to assume the role of Commandant Air Cadets, following the retirement of Air Commodore John Adrian Chamier; he also agreed to serve temporarily as an Air Vice-Marshal for the duration. He served in this role until he stepped down in 1946.[15]
Family
Air Marshal Sir Leslie Gossage retired to Buxted in Sussex, but died only a few years later, in 1949. He was 58.
Ernest Leslie Gossage was married with two sons. Capt. Gossage married Eileen O'Brien in 1917. Eileen was from a very military and very distinguished family: the daughter of Brigadier-General Edmund O'Brien, late 14th Hussars.[16]
Their elder son, Terence Leslie Gossage was born in 1918. Terence joined the King's Own Yorkshire light Infantry (KOYLI) and retired as a Major, with an MBE. He died in 1999.
The younger son, Peter Leslie Gossage, joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) and became a pilot, like his father. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and flew Hurricanes with 85 Sqn. Initially based in France as part of the Air Component of the BEF, the squadron was withdrawn during the Battle of France and then operated from Debden.[17] Pilot Officer Peter Gossage was killed on 31 May 1940 and is buried near his family, in Buxted.[18]
Notes
- ^ Hammerton, Sir John ABC of the RAF London 1941 p51
- ^ Carey, G. v. (June 2006). "War List of the University of Cambridge 1914-1918".
- ^ "THE LONDON GAZETTE" (PDF). 3 November 1911. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 November 2018.
- ^ "SPECIAL RESERVE OF OFFICERS" (PDF). The London Gazette. 8 April 1910. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Marshal Sir Leslie Gossage retrieved 2007-01-26
- ^ "SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE" (PDF). 3 June 1919. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2022.
- ^ "THE LONDON GAZETTE" (PDF). 3 July 1928. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 December 2021.
- ^ "THE LONDON GAZETTE" (PDF). 1 July 1932. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 August 2018.
- ^ "TIHE LONDON GAZETTE" (PDF). 31 December 1935. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2014.
- ^ "SUPPLEMENT ,TQ. THE LONDON GAZETTE" (PDF). 11 May 1937. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 September 2022.
- ^ "THE LONDON GAZETTE" (PDF). 10 December 1940. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 August 2022.
- ^ "SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE" (PDF). 11 July 1940. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 August 2018.
- ^ "SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE" (PDF). 1 January 1941. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 July 2022.
- ^ "SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE" (PDF). 30 November 1943. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 August 2018.
- ^ "SECOND SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette" (PDF). 3 May 1946. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 February 2017.
- ^ "14TH King's Hussars".
- ^ "World War 2 - RAF No. 85 Squadron, May/June 1940".
- ^ "Pilot Officer Peter Leslie Gossage | War Casualty Details".
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