Leslie Gossage

Infobox Military Person
name=Sir Ernest Leslie Gossage
lived=3 February1891-8 July1949
nickname=


caption=
allegiance=United Kingdom
serviceyears=1912-1944
rank=Air Marshal
branch=Royal Air Force
commands=No. 56 Squadron RFC No. 8 Squadron RFC
1st Wing RFC
RAF Balloon Command
School of Army Cooperation
Air Training Corps

battles=World War I
World War II
awards=Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross
Mention in Despatches (5)
laterwork=
Air Marshal Sir Ernest Leslie Gossage KCB, CVO, DSO, MC (3 February 1891 - 8 July 1949) [cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Gossage.htm|title=Air Marshal Sir Leslie Gossage|dateretrieved=2007-01-26] . He was a former artillery officer who become a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and later a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He was born in Liverpool in 1891 and died aged 58 in Sussex in 1949.

Military career

Royal Field Artillery

It is believed that he was a member of the Royal Field Artillery Special Reserve whilst a university student. [1] He was commissioned in 1912 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery. [cite web|url=http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/GOSSAGE.shtml|title=Survey of the Papers of Senior UK Defence Personnel, 1900-1975|dateretrieved=2007-01-26]

World War I

When the first World War started in 1914 Gossage was still a young 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery, where he remained for the first year of the war. However, on 12 May 1915, he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps where he was assigned to No 6 Sqn as a pilot. Where he was promoted quickly, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the end of the war. [1]

Royal Flying Corps

Gossage was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps in 1915 as a young 2nd Lieutenant, where he trained as a pilot and was assigned to No 6 squadron. By 5 Sep 1915 he had reached the rank of Captain and was assigned as a Flight Commander in No 6 squadron.

Following a promotion to Major in 1916 Gossage was given command of No 56 Squadron, later taking command of No 8 Squadron in the same year.

In 1917 Gossage was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and took command of the Royal Flying Corps' 1st Wing.

Royal Air Force

When the Royal Air Force was founded on 1 April 1918 Gossage transferred where he was appointed as a Staff officer in the Directorate of Operations and Intelligence. He remained in the RAF for the rest of his military career eventually reaching the rank of Air Marshal before his retirement in 1944.

Air Training Corps

After his retirement from regular service with the Royal Air Force, Gossage agreed to be re-employed to assume the role of Commandant Air Cadets after the retirement of Air Commodore John Adrian Chamier. He served in this role until he stepped down in 1946.

Decorations

Gossage has received several decorations for his service to the British Empire. In 1941 he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.

In chronological order he has been awarded:
* Military Cross - "Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Ernest Leslie Gossage, Royal Field Artillery and Royal Flying Corps. For Consitent good and zealous work under bad weather conditions, both on patrol and when co-operating with the artillery in operations resulting in the capture of the enemy's position" - 30 March 1916
* Companion of Distinguished Service Order (DSO), for service in France - 3 June 1919
* Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) - 11 May 1937
* Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) - 23 July 1937
* Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) - 1 January 1941

Notes

External links

* [http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Gossage.htm Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Mshl Gossage]

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