Jul 27, 1886

Born in England

Sep 26, 1907

Married to Alice Rebecca Wake in England

Nov 16, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario 

Ø      Number 59381 (temporary number 1005)

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs. Alice Goss, wife, 407 Willard Ave. W., Toronto, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Helper

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Baptist

Ø      Assigned to the Base Unit

o       Also shown as a Bugler and as a Batman to Lieut Sheppard 

The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

Feb 2, 1915

Admitted to a Kingston Hospital with inflamed tonsils

Feb 10, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Aug 28, 1915

Transferred to “C” Company from the Depot Company

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer 

Some time later, his wife Alice and daughter Rosina proceeded to England to be near her husband should he be able to obtain leave

Jan 4, 1916

Attached to the 4^th CIB (Canadian Infantry Brigade) Police to be employed as a Trench Warden

Feb 14, 1916

Granted 9 days leave

Apr 1, 1916

Rejoined the battalion from the brigade police

Apr 27, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Eye Refraction and transferred to the No. 6 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Apr 28, 1916

TOS (Taken On Strength) the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, and his medical category is changed to TB (Temporary Base) meaning that he is fit for non combat duty only. 

May 20, 1916

Left the CBD to join the battalion.  One would assume that he was fitted with glasses prior to leaving the depot

May 23, 1916

Rejoined the battalion in billets in the “B” Camp

Jun 24, 1916

While entering the Cook House in a Communication Trench, an artillery shell landed on the roof killing Private Goss and 3 others instantly.  He was buried by his comrades in the Bedford House Cemetery, south of Ypres, Belgium.  Below left is the original wood cross that was erected and on the right is the current grave marker.

Following the war the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his widow, Mrs. Edgar Hollyer (she had remarried), 5 Humber Blvd., Mt. Denis, Ontario 

A Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Louisa Goss, 83 Miteham Rd., Croydon, England

Below is from the July 1938 issue of the Communiqué,
the 21^st Battalion Association’s post war newslette

Feb 27, 1918

His widow embarked the SS Ongar (formerly called the SS Corsican) with his daughter, Rosina, in Liverpool

Mar 16, 1918

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario where she was remarried to Edgar Hollyer