IN REMEMBRANCE
THE WARD - GOSLING TROPHY
Bolton Clarions Ward - Gosling Trophy is named after the two members of Bolton Clarion cycling Club who give their lives in the Second World War, they were Herbert Ward and Tom Gosling. In looking into the History of this Trophy I found that these two men from Bolton Clarion were best Friends and next door neighbours living in the Hallo'th’Wood area of Bolton. The Trophy in Memory of these men is awarded as the Club Man of The Year Award. It is not for racing but for exceptional Services to the Club. Below is the history of Tom Gosling & Herbert Ward as best that I been able to gather, and while I have found quite a bit on Tom, I have had only limited success with tracing details of Herbert and if any one reading this has any additional information or photo’s of Herbert it would be gratefully received.
HERBERT WARD 
Herbert Ward grew up in Hall i’thWood Bolton Lancashire at 26 Valpy Avenue with is parents Herbert & Ellen presumably named after is Father. He was a member of a big family he had four sisters and four brothers.
At some point he became interested in cycling but cycled alone most of the time till encouraged by Tom Gosling one of his good friends and next door neighbour to join Bolton Clarion. Herbert know as Bert was a typical Clarion rider going on day runs and touring, as far as is known he did not go in for racing.
We know that Herbert went into the upholstery business and became an upholsterer and Doris William’s nee Gosling one of Toms younger sisters remembers him repairing there settee. Herbert joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Regiment with 166 Squadron, he would have been based at Kirmington, Lincolnshire his rank Sergeant he was a rear gunner in a bomber, a tail end Charlie as they became known.
166 Squadron flew Lancaster and Wellington Bomber’s out of Kirmington and it was in one of these that Bert was killed on his first Mission over Germany on 22nd October 1943. The plane he was in made it back to England but sadly Bert had been fatally injured.
He is buried in Dean (St.Mary) Churchyard Bolton.
This information is correct as best we know.
THOMAS HENRY GOSLING 
TOM GOSLING. TOM with family pet Jack.
Tom was born in Bolton in 1916 son of Rebbeca and George Wilson Gosling, he had three brothers and two Sisters Doris and Florence and Brothers Jim, Bill and George and an adopted brother Ted Morgan. They lived in Valpy Avenue Hallithwood.
The family must have been keen on cycling as were many in them days, we know that Florence George and Ted were also Bolton Clarion members. Tom went to Folds Road School Bolton and in his later years there was quite a hit with the girls by all accounts.
Tom was very much a happy go lucky character. After School Tom like many others went into the mines he worked at Cleworth Colliery near Tyldesley , he treated is rides to work on his bike very much as training runs as by now he was a keen racer with Bolton Clarion.
Tom at Fallowfield Tom on his Bike with Ronnie Hall
Tom had much success with his racing we know he won the Higgson cup in 1937 a premier 25mile Time Trial award amongst many others. He raced along side Jack Mullineux another well know Bolton Clarion racer who won in 1939. We have a picture of them together after a Time Trial race. Jack Mullineux won a bronze medal at the workers Olympiad at Antwerp in 1937 in the cycling road race.
War came and like many others Tom wanted to fight for is country, but he was in a reserved occupation, is solution to leave his job has a miner work for one week in the mills before joining the Royal Navy. He trained on H.M.S. Drake at Plymouth then onto the minesweeper H.M.S Halcyon.
A CAP RIBBON FROM H.M.S. HALCEYON
He was on her when she hit a mine in Tees Bay though damaged the ship made port. The crew were given a month’s shore leave after making port but presumably because the Halcyon was not repaired Tom was reassigned to the Repulse.
H.M.S. REPULSE
The history of the Repulse is well documented a Capital Battle cruiser ( see links below )along with the battle ship Prince of Wales and other ships she was sent to try and stop the Japanese taking Singapore. The Repulse stopped at Durban South Africa here Tom sent his last post card home.
On December 10th 1941 the Royal Navy suffered their greatest loss as a result of a single engagement, when the Capital ships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were sunk by Japanese warplanes, some 50 miles off the coast of Kuantan in Malaya, with the tragic loss of over 840 officers and men, Tom was one of them.
Tom died aged 24 years he left behind is family and is sweetheart Elsie whom he planned to marry after the War.
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THANKS
Thanks for help in creating this page go to
Doris Williams nee Gosling, Tom's youngest sister who give many of the photos required and information on Tom & Herbert
Andy Wade of the Z Force Survivors web site for his Research and creating Tom's page on there site (well worth a visit) see links.
To Other members of Bolton Cycling Club who give information and help.
LINKS
http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/ The full story pictures almost anything you could wish to know about H.M.S. Repulse see Tom's page under crew biographies.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-fornv/uk/uksh-r/repulse.htm More on H.M.S Repulse
http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/h166.html History of 166 Squadron
SOME MORE PICTURES
The front of Tom’s last card home.
Doris Williams Tom's Younger sister in 2005
SOME WINNERS
John Martin -David Bissett-Albert Winstanly-Rodney Bryan
Tom on shore leave pictured with sisters Doris left Flo front centre and Irene is sister in law.
Tom centre with Jack Mullineux left and Frank Worthen right Winners of a 50mile team time trial in the late 30's
Some of Tom's Cycling Medals.
Above Christmas card message from Tom on H.M.S. Repulse
H.M.S. Repulse under attack bombs going off round her 10th December 1941. H.M.S. Prince of Wales in top of picture.
