- Type of Memorial
- Board / Plaque / Tablet
- WMR Reference Number
- 94523
- Description
- Composite marble tablet comprising a rectangular dedication in white marble with black capital script, flanked by 2 rectangular grey marble pilasters supporting a stone cornice and semi-circular grey marble pediment. The pilasters and dedicatory tablet are supported on a stone shelf between 2 decorative plinths with a triangular grey marble projection blow bearing a heraldic shield.
- Inscription
- SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF/FRANCIS GOSTLING, SECOND SON OF/NATHANIEL GOSTLING, OF EARLS COURT HOUSE, ESQ/ACTING FIRST LIEUTENANT OF HMS BACCHANTE/WHOSE ZEAL AND ARDOUR IN DISCHARGING HIS DUTY/AGAINST THE FOES OF HIS COUNTRY/PREMATURELY BROUGHT HIM TO THE GRAVE./IN THE HOUR OF VICTORY/ WHILE EXPLODING ON THE COAST OF MANFREDONIA/IN THE KINGDOM OF NAPLES/A FORT WHICH HE HAD GALLANTLY TAKEN,/A STONE FROM THE DEMOLISHED WALL, DEPRIVED/AT ONCE HIS COUNTRY OF A VALIANT OFFICER,/HIS FRIENDS OF AN AMIABLE AND BELOVED COMPANION/THE WORLD OF A PROMISING ORNAMENT,/AND HIS RELATIONS, OF/ALAS THEIR BURSTING HEARTS CANNOT EXPRESS THEIR LOSS/THIS TABLET MAY INDICATE/THAT VIRTUES AND AFFECTIONS LIKE HIS SHOULD HAVE/REMEMBRANCE, YET THIS STONE WILL DECAY,/AND THE SCULPTURE MAY BE EFACED,/BUT TIME THO' IT WILL LESSEN GRIEF,/CAN DESTROY NO TRACE/ OF WHAT IS DEEPLY ENGRAVEN ON THEIR MEMORIES, THAT AS A SON, A BROTHER, A FRIEND, A COMPANION,/THOUGH HE MAY BE EQUALLED HE CANNOT BE EXCELLED./HE FELL ON THE 20TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 1813, AGED 22 YEARS