William Charles Gosney

  Research Notes:

On 31 December 1914 the British 5th Battle Squadron, eightpre-dreadnought battleshipswas off Portland carrying out gunnery practice. At dusk they turned up channel towards the Isle of Wight intending to be off Portland again next day. They
were in line ahead, in close order, and steaming at 10 knots; a perfect target.

Lieutenant Commander Schneider in U24 had sighted them during the morning. All day he stalked his prey but never got within torpedo range. At 7pm the battle squadron turned 16 points off the Needles and steamed slowly down the Channel. At
2.25am On New Year's day a torpedo hit the 'Formidable' almost amidships. She took on a heavy list as her boiler rooms flooded. All lights failed as the dynamos stopped. Three quarters of an hour later U24 fired another torpedo. At 4.45am
she gave a sudden lurch and with the seas breaking over her decks she slid under. Darkness and rough seas made rescue difficult; 547 of her crew of 780 perished.

His name is commemorated on the Royal Naval War Memorial at Chatham.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: R oyal Navy, Bosun.

William married Margaret Coleman, daughter of Thomas Coleman and Norah, on 14 Sep 1905 in R. C. Cathedral of St. John, Portsmouth, Devon England. (Margaret Coleman was born in 1886.)