Douglas Edward Gosling, born on 18th June 1894, was admitted to King Edward’s School in January 1907. He was one of five children of Helena and Howard, a packing case maker, and the family lived at 22 Wellington Road, Edgbaston (and later at 12, Oxford Road, Moseley).
At KES, Douglas was an enthusiastic athlete, coming 2nd in his heat in the 100 Yards Flat Race of 1908 and 2nd in his class in the gymnastics competition of 1910. According to the School Lists, Douglas excelled at Latin and English, but did less well with French and Science. After he left school, he worked in the family business for several years.
Douglas joined the Royal Engineers in August 1913 as a Lieutenant, serving in the 1st North Midland Field Company. He was killed at Ypres on 20th May 1915, aged twenty, while digging out a buried officer. Douglas is buried in Dranouter Churchyard Cemetery, and is commemorated on St Mary’s Church Memorial, Moseley.