Auction Catalogue

29 June 2022

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Live Online Auction

Download Images

Lot

№ 265

.

29 June 2022

Hammer Price:
£850

Three: Private R. W. Gosney, Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps, later Second Lieutenant, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, who was Mentioned in Despatches in Mesopotamia, and was killed in action at the Battle of Ctesiphon on 22 November 1915

1914-15 Star (1742 Pte. R. W. Gosney. Ceylon. Plr. R.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. R. W. Gosney.) good very fine (3) £120-£160

Reginald Wilkie Gosney was born on 3 August 1888, the son of Charles F. Gosney, a Ceylon Tea Planter, and was educated at Crewkern Grammar School. Upon leaving school he followed his father into the tea industry, and attested for the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps in 1913. He served with them during the Great War, before being commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers, and was posted on attachment to the 76th Punjabi Regiment.

In March 1915, the 76th Punjabis arrived in Mesopotamia to join the 12th Indian Division. After taking part in the Battle of Shaiba, where the Turkish counter-attack was repulsed, the regiment participated in the operations in Persian Arabistan. In June and July, the 76th Punjabis took part in the operations along the River Euphrates, which led to the capture of Nasiriyah. For his gallantry during these operations Lieutenant Gosney was Mention in Despatches (London Gazette 5 April 1916).

In August, the 76th Punjabis joined Major General Charles Townshend's 6th Indian Division in its advance towards Baghdad. Gosney was killed in action at the Battle of Ctesiphon on 22 November 1915, the first major engagement on the advance to Baghdad. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.

Sold with copied research.