Nat Gould

John Gould 1889-1917

John Gould was born in 1889 at Longnor in Staffordshire, the son of Richard Goodwin Gould 1822-1892 and his wife nee Martha Wooddisse 1847-1922.

When the Census was taken in 1911 he was aged 21 years, unmarried and working as a draper's assistant to James Henry Pullin of Calverley House, 43 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells in Kent, together with 25 other members of staff.

When the First World War broke out John Gould joined the Australian Imperial Force serving as a private infantry soldier Service No 2864 in the 11th Battalion.

On their way to Gallipoli

The Australian Imperial Force raised 60 Infantry Units. The 11th Battalion was raised in Western Australia and formed part of the 3rd Brigade. They embarked two months later, arriving in Egypt on 2 December 1914. The Battalion sailed for Gallipoli on 24 April 1915 on board HMS London, and fought in the Gallipoli campaign. After returning to Egypt they sailed in March 1916 for the Western Front. There they fought the German Army mainly in the Somme Valley and around Ypres. In July 1916 they saw major action at Pozières and later at Ypres, before returning to the Somme for winter. Early in 1917 the German Army withdrew to the Hindenburg Line, and during that year the Australian forces fought in horrendous conditions around Ypres (1).

Menin Gate at Midnight

During the Third Battle of Ypres Private John Gould was killed in action on 7 October 1917 at Passchendaele.

He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Menin Gate War Memorial at Ypres in Belgium (2).

Administration of his estate was granted on 2 February 1918 (3).

(1) www.forces-war-records.co.uk ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_Battalion
(2) Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial: Panel 7-17-23-25-27-29-31. The picture "Menin Gate at Midnight was painted in 1927 by Will Longstaff, and presented to the people of Australia.
(3) "GOULD John of Folds End Farm Longnor Staffordshire private Australian Imperial Force died 7 October 1917 in Belgium Administration London 2 February to Martha Gould widow. Effects £177 18s." England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1966 (1918) page 399. Martha Gould was his mother.