Estate Church of St Oswald's
Saturday, 14 April 2018 in 49m (8–3–26)
1440 April Day Doubles
(being 12 extents)
1 Paul Sharp
2 Yvonne A Woodcock
3 Janet M Risdale
4 Michael Christie
5 Christopher C P Woodcock (C)
6 Robert H Harvey
We Will Remember You!
Specially arranged and rung by the local band with the bells half muffled to commemorate the centenary of the death of Private WILLIAM HENRY ROSSINGTON, who was killed in action on 15th April 1918 at the age of 21, whilst serving in the Lincolnshire Regiment 4th Battalion. William is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium.
William was a bell ringer at this Church, being a member of the local band until he enlisted. He was taught to ring on the then five bells here at Blankney (the present back five, the treble not being added until 1919 as a War Memorial) by the then Tower Captain Frederick Stokes, a well known and highly respected ringer within the Lincoln Diocesan Guild, being Hon. Guild Secretary for 30 years. Not surprisingly William joined the Lincoln Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers and is commemorated on the Guild War Memorial in the Ringers Chapel at Lincoln Cathedral.
William was born in Blankney, son of Henry & Hannah Rossington and was baptised here in St Oswald’s Church Blankney on 13th September 1896. Before enlisting he was an Estate Carpenters Apprentice on the Blankney Hall Estate. He is commemorated on the village War Memorial which is on the north wall in the Church. His older brother Edward Thomas Rossington (not known to be a ringer) was also killed in the Great War just 10 months earlier on 13th June 1917.
Rung also to mark the centenary of the death of ERNEST WRIGHTON GOSLING, who served in the 4th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment, who was killed in action on 12th April 1918 aged 21.
Ernest & William were the tenth & eleventh Blankney residents to be killed during the Great War.
'Their Name Liveth For Evermore'
When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.
(Rung also for the Lincoln Diocesan Guild)

This performance is linked to the events: Saint Andrew's and All Saints Society — Blankney Remembers (WW1 commemorations) and Saint Andrew's and All Saints Society — Remembering our fallen local Ringers (WW1)