This man is a candidate for addition to Keighley's Supplementary Volume under the proposal to add further names in 2024, the centenary of the original roll of honour.
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Supported by the National Lottery's Heritage Fund, our project intends to submit about 120 names for peer review to add them to the book which is kept at Keighley Library. The unveiling of the book with it's new names is planned for November 2024, 100 years after the unveiling of the original war memorial.

Third Mate. Mercantile Marine S.S. "Elve" (Liverpool)

Third Mate John Sawyer Gostling. Courtesy of the Keighlian Magazine.

Early life:

John was born on 30th September 1897 at Methley, St Oswald, Leeds, registered in Pontefract in the last quarter of the year.
His parents were John, and Annie Elizabeth Gostling and John was a Railway Station Master.
John was baptised on 1st May 1898 at Methley, St Oswald and the family were living at the Great Northern Railway Station, Methley.
In the 1901 census John was three years old and living at 29, Victoria Terrace in Keighley, with his parents, three sisters and one brother.
John began attending Keighley Grammar School in 1907.
In the 1911 census he was aged 13 years and still a scholar, living at 62, Dalton Lane in Keighley, with his parents, three sisters and two brothers.
Father's occupation: Passenger Agent for Railway (The Great Northern Railway).
John left Keighley Grammar School in 1912 and was apprenticed for four years with the shipping company of Messrs' Furness, Withy and Co., serving chiefly between Bristol and North America.
He gained his Second Mate's certificate in August 1917 and accepted a positon as Third Officer with the shipping company of Alfred Holt & Co. (The Blue Funnel Line).
He was serving on the S.S. "Elve." sailing from Newcastle to Oporto. John died aged 20 years, when his ship the SS Elve was sunk on the return journey, by the German U Boat U-22 on 11th October. The crew were not recovered from the lifeboats.

Keighley News 13th April 1918, page 3:

John S. Gostling, (20), eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. Gostling, aof 3, Haincliffe Road, Ingrow, has been missing since October last. He gained his second mate's certificate in the mercantile marine in August, and joined one of Messrs. Alfred Holt & Co.'s boats as third officer in September last and the boat is supposed to have been torpedoed on the homeward voyage. Nothing has since been heard of the vessel or any member of the crew. He was an old Keighley Trade and Grammar School boy, and as a youth was a member of Holy Trinity and Parish Church choirs.

Keighlian Magazine obituary:

JOHN SAWYER GOSTLING (Of the Mercantile Marine Service).
The Royal Navy has done a noble work in protecting our shores from invasion, but in a war like this, and against such an unscrupulous enemy, the dangers of the deep are equally shared by the Mercantile Marine. Our food supply has depended entirely on their devotion to duty and self-sacrifice. It is to such a noble body of men that John Sawyer Gostling belonged, and the School will long remember him equally with those who have made the supreme sacrifice while in the fighting forces.
He has been missing since October 11th, 1917, on which date the vessel on which he was serving left Oporto for London. On the afternoon of that date a wireless S.O.S. signal from the vessel was picked up by an Admiralty boat, which was too far away to render assistance. No other tidings as to her fate, or that of any member of her crew have been received, and it is concluded that she was sunk by an enemy submarine and the crew given no chance to escape. It was known that U-Boats had been operating off the Portugese coast.
John Gostling was a pupil at School from 1907 to 1912. After leaving School he was apprenticed for four years with Messrs. Furnace, Withy & Co., and served on several of their boats, trading chiefly between Bristol and North American ports. He gained his second mate's certificate in August, 1917. Officers were at that time very scarce, and he had many tempting offers from various firms. Having a preference for Messrs. Alfred Holt & Co,'s service, he accepted from them the position of Third Officer on the S.S. "Elve." sailing from Newcastle to Oporto. It was on the return voyage that the vessel disappeared.
In several conversations with him, the writer was told he had a great regard for his old School, and was proud to be regarded as an "Old Boy." He was very fond of music, and gained several prizes whilst at School. Thanks to the training he received from Mr Wilkinson, he was always a welcome guest at the Sailor's Homes on the "other side," especially at Boston, U.S.A. - the largest Sailors' Home in the world - where he assisted at many a pleasant musical evening. In return, he enjoyed the hospitality of gentlemen interested in the Institution, on many a week-end yachting cruise, a pastime of which he was very fond. John S. Gostling was of a most manly character. he is remembered by the masters as a remarkably well-built lad, most straightforward and painstaking, the very qualities which go to make our splendid seamen. Like the members of his profession, his duty was clear and nothing would induce him to depart from it. We are proud that he was an Old Boy, and feel that the country can ill spare such a fine type of manhood. His memory will long be cherished in the School annals.

Post war:

John is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial in London, for Mercantile Mariners who died in the wars.
He is also remembered on the St Andrew's Church WW1 Memorial Board (Keighley Shared Church).
He is also remembered in the Keighlian Magazine roll of honour for Keighley Grammar School.

John was incorrectly listed as an absent voter (NM - Naval and Military) in the 1919 electoral roll for 3, Haincliffe Road, Keighley. (probably an oversight or typographical error - he had died two years prior to this). His brother Reginald Watson Gostling was also listed as a NM voter, so we know he also served in the war and is also listed on the roll of honour for Keighley Grammar School as one who served.
His parents were later recorded as living at 3, Haincliffe Road, Ingrow, Keighley - in the CWGC records.

John's father applied for his medals on 2nd October 1922. The index card from the National Archives indicate that he was sent the Mercantile Marine Medal and the War Medal on 4th January 1923 and their home address was 3, Haincliffe Road, Ingrow, Keighley.
He should also have received a bronze memorial plaque, a memorial scroll and a condolence slip.

Information sources:

England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
West Yorkshire, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962
Keighlian Magazine, Andy Wade collection
UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current
Furness, Withy & Co. details on Graces Guide:
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Furness,_Withy_and_Co
Alfred Holt & Co. (The Blue Funnel Line) details on Graces Guide:
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Alfred_Holt_and_Co
Commonwealth War Graves Commission