William Ellis GOMERSALL

09 April 1915

COMMISION FOR HELLIFIELD YOUTH

The London Gazette for March 19th records the appointment of W.E. Gomersall as temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the 23rd Service Battalion Manchester Regiment (8th City) ante-dated December 22nd, 1914. 2nd Lieut. W.E. Gomersall is the eldest son of Mr. Hubert Gomersall, Queen’s Road, Urmston, and nephew of Rev. W.J. Gomersall, curate of St. John’s Kensal Green, London (whose writings – verse and prose – are so well known in Craven). Born at Hellifield 20 years ago, educated at the Manchester Grammar School, he passed his Classical Matriculation in 1911, “at the first attempt” (in the words of the High Master), and won his foundation. On the formation of the Grammar School O.T.C. he became a member, resigning only on leaving the school. He holds the certificates of the St. John Ambulance and The Royal Life Saving Society, and is a commissioned lieutenant in the Urmston Company of the Church Lads’ Brigade. Shortly after the outbreak of the war, receiving permission from his principles, he enlisted as a private in the University and Public Schools Brigade (Manchester Battalion), giving valuable help in the recruiting which was for several weeks conducted at the Manchester Grammar School. Proceeding to Epsom with the advance party, and in charge of a platoon, he quickly became senior sergeant. On the formation of the Manchester City Service Battalions, 2nd Lieutenant Gomersall was one of the successful candidates selected for a commission, out of a very large number of applicants. On Sunday, March 21st, the Battalion (Bob’s Own) which – along with the remainder of the brigade – travelled specially from Morecambe for the review by Lord Kitchener, received quite marked attention from the Manchester crowd.

04 May 1915

HELLIFIELD YOUTH’S PROMOTION

Mr. W.E. Gomersall, who was born at Hellifield 20 years ago, son of Mr. H. Gomersall, Urmston, and nephew of the Rev. W.J. Gomersall, of Hampstead, has been promoted from second-lieutenant in the 23rd Service Battalion Manchester Regiment (‘Bantams’) to a full lieutenancy in the 22nd Manchester Regiment. Before leaving the 23rd he received several tokens of appreciation from the officers and men of the regiment. Lieutenant Gomersall has left Morecambe and is continuing his training at Grantham.

14 July 1916

GOMERSALL – July 1st, killed in action on the Western Front, Lieut. Wm. Ellis Gomersall, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Gomersall, 69 Queen’s Road, Urmston, Manchester, aged 21 years.

14 July 1916

LIEUT. W. E. GOMERSALL KILLED

Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Gomersall, of 69, Queen’s Road, Urmston, Manchester, have received the sad news that their eldest son, Lieut. William Ellis Gomersall, was killed in action on Saturday, July 1st – the first day of the Great Advance in the Somme sector of the Western Front. The gallant young officer met his death, along with eight other fellow officers, during a charge in which his Regiment, the 22nd Manchesters, upheld all the glorious traditions of the 7th Division and the Army. The nature of the ordeal may be inferred from the fact that out of 774 officers and men practically only 140 returned.

Lieutenant Gomersall was born at Hellifield, and was, therefore, a native of Craven. His father shortly afterwards went to reside at Urmston, near Manchester, where he has since occupied an important position on the staff of the Sewing Cotton Company in Albert Square of that city. His son, Lieutenant Gomersall, was 21 last November, the month in which he first accompanied his Regiment to France. He was educated at the Manchester Grammar School and passed his Classical Matriculation in 1911. He was a member of the Grammar School O.T.C., and Lieutenant in the Urmston Company of the Church Lads’ Brigade. He also held the certificate of the Royal Life Saving Society and St. John Ambulance Society. On leaving school he was articled to a Manchester firm of chartered accountants, but soon after the outbreak of war he enlisted as a private in the Public Schools Brigade, Manchester Battalion, which was being formed at the Grammar School, and in the recruiting of which he gave valuable assistance. After several months training at Epsom, he was selected for a commission in the 23rd Manchester Regiment (‘Bantams’), but was afterwards transferred to the 22nd Battalion. After further training at Morecambe, Grantham, and Salisbury Plain, and after being promoted to full Lieutenant, (May 11th, 1915), he entered a course at the Royal Staff College, Camberley, and eventually accompanied his regiment to France.

Lieutenant Gomersall was recently engaged to his cousin May, the youngest daughter of the Rev. W. J. Gomersall, and much sympathy is felt for both families in the loss of so gallant a young soldier. Last Sunday, at St. Clement’s, Urmston, a memorial service was held, when the curate, Rev. W. Driver, B.A., an old friend of the family, preached an eloquent sermon from the text, ‘Father into Thy hands I commend my spirit’. In the course of his sermon the preacher read a letter he had received from Lieutenant Gomersall, full of trust in God, and breathing the spirit of a truly noble young life.

The family have received many letters full of appreciation of the deceased officer, and of condolence with his family. The Commanding Officer says:– “Will you please accept our deepest sympathy in your great loss. Your son fell bravely in action on the morning of the 1st July. His body has been found and buried. From the wounds he received it is certain that he suffered no pain, and his death was instantaneous. Your late son was an excellent officer, beloved by officers and men. The Battalion did splendidly, but lost heavily. Officers killed 10, wounded 8, other ranks killed, wounded and missing 44. With our great sympathies, Yours sincerely, P. WHETHAM”

21 July 1916

THE POET'S CORNER – SONGS OF THE GREAT WAR SERIES

No. XXIII – A HERO OF MAMETZ, JULY 1st 1916

“Tomorrow I am going to have the day of my life” Lieutenant W.E. Gomersall, in a letter he wrote home June 30th 1916, the day before he fell in the first Great Advance. He was a native of Craven.

His was a happy dream, yet happier death,
In Mametz on the first of July morn,
When, leading on, he gave away his breath,
To help a better world to be re-born.

The dream has passed! Clear the vision now,
The sacrifice supreme, not made in vain,
Scant need to deck with fading leaf his brow,
His laurel is a life that knew no stain.

The prize is won, that which can never fade,
A crown of life transcending aught we know,
A life, not measured by life’s seventh decade,
Transfigured from its youth of life below.

There is no death in such a life as this,
'Tis but a passing to life’s ampler bliss.

Rev. W.J. Gomersall, Hampstead, July, 1916 [The Rev. W.J. Gomersall was the uncle of T/Lt. W.E. Gomersall.]

21 July 1916

THE LATE LIEUT. W. E. GOMERSALL

The death in action of this officer, particulars of whom we gave last week, has been the subject of many sympathetic letters to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Gomersall, of 69, Queen’s Road, Urmston, Manchester. The deceased, with his fiancée, Miss May Gomersall, daughter of the Rev. W.J. Gomersall, a native of Otterburn-in-Craven, and now curate of St. John’s, Kensal Green, was pictured in the ‘Daily Sketch’ on Saturday last. One of the most telling letters concerning the brave young officer – he was only 21 years – have been received from Mr. J. L. Paton, Headmaster of the Manchester Grammar who says:–

“I have been passing, before my mind the pictures I have if your boy, bright, full of sunshine, always as open as the sunshine, too, eager and glad to do anything that is helpful, one of the first in everything that was manly, active, and for the good of the school; hearty and cheerful under all circumstances at camp, loved by all, teachers and taught alike. The last picture of all is of the young lad in his manhood, marching down the Cheetham Hill Road, to the Kitchener review, towering above the regiment that he led, and still with the look of boyish idealism in his face. Yes, I knew, and you knew, that he would take all the risks gladly; and I knew, too, that Englishmen would follow through anything an officer like that. It is a precious gallant life that has been laid down for his country, and I am sure the blessing of God is on it.”

To how many other gallant lads who have laid down their lives in this war could the same noble words be applied ? Alas, too many.

21 December 1917

CRAVEN AND THE WAR – THE LATE LIEUT. W. E. GOMERSALL

At St. Clement’s Church, Urmston, Manchester, on the 12th inst. a brass tablet to the memory of the late Lieut. W. E Gomersall was unveiled in the presence of a large congregation. It bore the inscription:– “Sacred to the memory of William Ellis Gomersall, Lieut. 22nd Battalion Manchester Regiment, who fell in the attack on Mametz, July 1st 1916, aged 21 years. May light perpetually shine on those who give their lives for their country and the right.”

The sermon was preached by the Rev. W. Driver, vicar of Edgeside, Waterfoot, and formerly curate of Urmston, and the lesson was read by Mr. J. L. Paton, M.A., Headmaster of the Manchester Grammar School. The deceased officer, who was a native of Craven, was a son of Mr. H. Gomersall, Urmston, and a nephew of the late Rev. W. J. Gomersall, curate of St. John’s, Kensal Green, for many years a regular contributor to the ‘Craven Herald.’

30 August 1918

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Hubert Roberts (Bobs) Gomersall, has been gazetted 2nd Lieutenant (Observer Officer) in the Royal Air Force. Second-Lieutenant H.R. Gomersall is the 3rd son of Mr. and Mrs. Gomersall, ‘Newsholme,’ 69 Queen’s Road, Urmston (and nephew of the late Rev. W.J. Gomersall, a native of Otterburn, and well known in Craven). His eldest brother, the late Lieut. W.E. Gomersall, of the 22nd Manchester Regiment, fell in the attack on Mametz, July 1st, 1916, the opening day of the great Somme offensive. On that day the Manchesters won an amazing success but at a terrible cost; out of 770 splendid men in the 22nd Battalion only 130 remained, and 20 out of 21 officers were killed or wounded. A thousand pities we had no tanks two years ago to face the machine guns!

04 July 1919

PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' – CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS

LIEUTENANT W. E. GOMERSALL

22nd Manchester Regiment, a native of Hellifield, and nephew of the late Rev. W. J. Gomersall, killed in action July 1st, 1918, aged 21 years.

02 July 1920

GOMERSALL – In memory of our beloved eldest son, William Ellis Gomersall, Lieut. 22nd Battalion Manchester Regt., who fell in the attack on Mametz, July 1st, 1916, in his 22nd year, and of the splendid officers and men of the same Battalion who fell on that morning.

“May Light Perpetual shine on those who gave their lives for their Country and the Right.”

‘Newholme,’ Queen’s Road, Urmston.