THE bravery of one Wroughton resident who was awarded the Victoria Cross, the UK’s highest award for gallantry, will be celebrated in the village over the next few days.

William Gosling was only 24 when he was a sergeant in the 3rd Wessex Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, during the First World War and he saved the lives of his platoon by removing the fuse from a faulty mortar bomb. He died in the village in 1945, aged 52.

Since its introduction in 1856, only 1,358 VCs have been awarded to brave soldiers and to mark William’s successes, the village will be holding a number of events over the next few days.

On Sunday, a commemorative service will be held at 10.30am in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist and St Helen.

The service will be followed by a parade to the war memorial at 11.20am, which will consist of local youth organisations, representatives of the Royal British Legion, Royal Artillery and associations, as well as the Wiltshire Home Guard Living History Group, and then a short dedication ceremony take place where the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire will unveil a commemorative stone produced by DCLG. Members of William Gosling’s family will be at the service and parade.

Coun Vince Welsh from Wroughton Parish Council, who are organising the events, said everyone is proud to honour William.

“The ceremony planned for this Sunday will honour William Gosling VC in a manner which is befitting the hero that he was,” he said. “I think it is very important for people of all ages to remember the sacrifice of all those that fought in the World Wars and the events planned for the coming week within Wroughton will showcase this in a very thoughtful way.”

Other events to mark Wroughton’s historic association with the forces and sections on the home front, V.C., Royal Artillery and militaria will be shown at an exhibition from Monday in the library.

There will also be an educational and interactive experience for all ages comprising a replica WW1 trench and exhibition of militaria, presented by historian Steve Williams dressed as a Tommie at the Ellendune Community Centre on Wednesday from 2.45pm.

An evening of poetry, music and theatre will round off the week’s events at the Ellendune on Friday evening from 7.30pm featuring local performers ‘Ronstars’.

For more information, visit www.wroughton.gov.uk.