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103 Regiment Royal Artillery
The History of Gourley Troop
By WO2 D Ralphs RAWO AGC
Adjt 103 now Maj (Mark) Martin started a project in 2017 to restore a grave in West Kirby cemetery after researching that the Gourley family grave held the remains of 681886 Sgt CE Gourley VC MM of D/276th Battery Field Artillery (Territorial Force) – 30th of November 2017.
Maj Martin, WO1 Carr, WO2 Ralphs, Sgt Williams and ex reservist of 103, set about restoring the grave in the Summer of 2017. With the intention of a military ceremony later in 2017 inviting the only living relative of Sgt Gourley his nephew Mr Colin Gourley who travelled from New Zealand along with the Mayor of Wirral Borough Council, members of 103 Regt RA, students and teachers of Calday Grammar School (a scholarship is awarded in the name of Sgt Gourley to attend Liverpool University) and members of a local Wirral military preservation society.
On 30th of November 2017, 100 years to the day, 103 Regt RA marked the award of the Victoria Cross to Sgt CE Gourley MM of D/276th Battery Field Artillery which is now 208 Battery. Sgt Gourley was a local Lancashire man, having attended Calday Grange Grammar School and joined the Army during the First World War. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the Battle of Cambrai where he led a section of howitzers. The guns were surrounded, and bitter close fighting ensued. Despite being overrun and forced off the position, Sgt
Gourley regularly led
artillerymen back to
the gun to get it back
into action to support
the 1/16th (Rifles)
Battalion, The Kings
(Liverpool) Regiment.
Along with twelve
other soldiers, who
were all awarded with gallantry medals, the position of Little Priel Farm was held. Sgt Gourley was also awarded the Military
Medal in Ypres in July 1917 for conspic- uous gallantry in putting out a fire near an ammunition dump. He was subse-
quently promoted to Captain. After the War he worked for Lever Brothers Corporation.
Sgt Gourley’s legacy continues in the Regiment today with the naming of the Troop that looks after our potential officers’ –
Sgt Gourley regularly led artillerymen back to the gun to get it back into action to support the 1/16th (Rifles) Battalion
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Gourley Troop.