Bernard Leonard Goose

Many generations and branches of the Goose family had lived in and around Tasburgh. Bernard Leonard Goose born in 1895, was the son of George and Elizabeth who lived in Grove Cottage on Grove Lane, Tasburgh with their eight other children. After leaving school Bernard got a job as a labourer on the railway at Flordon station but in 1914 volunteered to join the Norfolk Regiment and the following year he was transferred to the 9th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry which had suffered heavy casualties in the 2nd Battle of Ypres and replacements were urgently needed to bring them back to strength.

During the early stages of the Battle of the Somme Bernard was involved in holding the line of trenches stretching north and west to the sea but he died in almost the last attack of the Somme campaign. On the 5th November the 50th Northumbrian Division was ordered to attack Bute de Warlencourt, the furthest point reached by the British Army after four months of fighting. The 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry took their objective and held it for eighteen hours but finally had to withdraw as they were unsupported at either end of their line. Of the 800 men of the Regiment who advanced that day only 94 returned and they didn't include Bernard Leonard Goose amongst their number.

He was the third Tasburgh man to die on the Somme and the second whose name is engraved on the Memorial at Thiepval as having no known grave.