WW2 Gulf of Taranto Submarine Casualty Medal Group of Three – Stoker Petty Officer J.H. Gosling, Royal Navy, HM Submarine Odin

A well documented second world war Submarine Service casualty medal group awarded to C/K.61699 Stoker Petty Officer John Henry Gosling, Royal Navy, who was an inter-war submariner who was twice employed out on the China Station. Gosling was however then aboard the submarine Odin and operating from Alexandria and then Malta, when he was lost when Odin was depth charged and later rammed on surface by the Italian destroyers Strale and Baleno and sunk in the Gulf of Taranto on 13th June 1940. 

1939-45 Star unnamed as issued 
Africa Star unnamed as issued 
War Medal 1939-45 unnamed as issued 

Together with Admiralty condolence slip inscribed to ‘John Henry Gosling’. 

The group comes with:

• Buckingham Palace Condolence Slip, issued in sympathy to: ‘Mrs. H. Gosling’.
• Admiralty Accounts letter concerning the loss of Gosling, presumed to have died aboard Odin on 27th Jun 1940, dated 12th September 1940.
• Submarine Depot Fort Blockhouse Casualty Condolence and Sympathy to next-of-kin slip, inscribed in ink in memory of: ‘John H. Gosling, Stoker Petty Officer’, who gallantly gave his life for his King, his country and his home whilst aboard H.M.S. ‘Odin’ in 1940. A rare surviving submarine casualty document. This with its original envelope addressed to: ‘Mrs. H Gosling, 118 Eastworth Road, Chertsey, Surrey.’ Postdated for 30th September 1940.
• Royal Navy Parchment Certificate of Service issued to John Henry Gosling,
• Royal Navy Certificate for Education Test, Part 1, issued to Gosling, dated 4th March 1924.
• Royal Navy Passing Certificate for Stoker Petty Officer, issued to Gosling, dated 8th April 1933.
• Royal Navy Stoker Rating “Employment and Ability Record”. issue to Gosling.
• 1930’s period set of reproduction photographs of submarine serving at Hong Kong, taken at a time when Gosling was presumably serving out there. The accompanying issued envelope inscribed to Gosling on the cover when he was serving as a Leading Stoker.
• Accompanying letter for the photographs of the Submariners Memorial Chapel as sent by the Chaplain at Dolphin in Gosport, Hampshire, dated 17th May 1944. Sent to Mrs. Gosling. Together with both photographs.
• Admiralty Letter to recipient’s widow, dated 23rd October 1945, and owing to hostilities having ceased, giving details as to the loss of Gosling and the circumstances of this whilst he was serving aboard the submarine Odin. Sent to the recipient’s widow at 118 Eastworth Road, Chertsey, Surrey.
• Garth Memorial Hostel Order of Ceremony Pamphlet for the ceremony issued in memory of Lieutenant I.M. Anderson R.N., and the officers and men of H.M. Submarine Odin, as held on 29th September 1951. Also accompanying newsletter recording the event issued by the Scottish Youth Hostels Association in November 1951.
• Singapore Union Jack Club Weekly Menu Sheet, believed to have been kept by Gosling whilst on service out there. Undated.
• A locket photograph of the recipient when a baby together with his father.

Regiment: Royal Navy

Era: WW2