Nat Gould

William James Gould 1880-1965

William and Winifred Gould

William James Gould was born on 7 August 1880 in Yanipy, Victoria. He was the son of Charles Gould 1853-1889 and his wife née Grace Waters 1853-1889.

In 1901 he was recorded as working far away on Pig Station in Beverley, Western Australia (1). When the First World War broke out, he enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force.

On 2 December 1915 Private William James Gould married Annie Winifred Turnbull in the Presbyterian Church, Ann Street, Brisbane, Queensland (2). She was born on 28 December 1889 in Naracoorte, South Australia, the youngest daughter of Simon Turnbull and his wife née Annie Winifred Bennett.

He served in the 26th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War, leaving for Egypt and then Gallipoli in 1915. After defending position on the peninsula, the battalion left via Egpyt for the Western Front in France. There they took part in the major battles on the Somme. In 1917 the 26th Battalion joined in the attack on the Hindenburg Line to which the German troops had withdrawn, and fought in the battle of Menin Road. Early in 1918 they took the first German tank to be captured in battle, and took a prominent part in the final campaign that lead to the Armistice in November 1918. The 26th Battalion was disbanded in May 1919 (3).

Glenalvie Farm House 1930

On his return home to Australia after demobilasation in 1919, he bought a dilapidated farm house at auction.

It was situated at Glen Alvie in Currency Creek, South Australia, and had been originally built in the 1850s by Robert Bennett, grandfather of his wife.

Nobody bid against a returning soldier.

By 1930 he and his wife had completely refurbished it.

They had the following children:

With his eldest sons

With Murray and Jean (right)

Alexander Ronald Gould. He was born on 23 April 1920 at Mrs Nicholson's Hospital in Naracoorte, and was known in the family as Alex. He died on 18 February 1972 in Adelaide, South Australia. He was buried on 21 February 1972 at Currency Creek, South Australia.

Douglas Ross Gould. He was born on 6 July 1922 in Goolwa, South Australia, and was known in the family as Ross. He served as a private in the 8th Auxiliary Horse Transport Company, enlisting at Goolwa. He died on 13 February 1978 at Currency Creek, and was buried there on 16 February 1978.

Jean Winifred Gould. She was born on 4 October 1924 at Goolwa. She was married to Oliver George Byrnes in 1950 in Goolwa. He was born on 17 April 1914 in Goolwa, the son of William Henry Byrnes and Euphemia Marion Barclay. He died on 29 September 1988 in Goolwa, and was buried on 3 October 1988 in Currency Creek, South Australia (4).

Murray William Gould. He was born on 7 February 1931 at Goolwa. He married Sheila Evelyn Mary Buggy on 25 May 1963 in St Joachin's Catholic Church, Holland Park in Brisbane Queensland.

Their father William James Gould died on 23 November 1965 in Victor Harbor, South Australia. He was buried on 24 November 1965 at Currency Creek (5).

His widow Annie Winifred Gould née Turnbull died on 2 May 1973 in Victor Harbor, and was buried on 4 May 1973 at Currency Creek.

(1) Western Australia Census 1901.
(2) "Married - Gould - Turnbull - On the 2nd December at the Presbyterian Church, Ann Street Brisbane by the Rev.J.Cosh B.D. Private William James Gould A.I.F. to Annie Winifred, youngest daughter of Simon Turnbull, Naracoorte Sth Australia". Chronicle 1 January 1916.
(3) The 26th Battalion formed part of the 7th Brigade of the Australian Imperial Force. It left Australia in July 1915 and, after training in Egypt, landed at Gallipoli on 12 September 1915. At Gallipoli the 26th was responsible for the defence of Courtney's and Steele's Posts, and Russell's Top. It withdrew from the peninsula on 12 December 1915, and proceeded via Egypt to France as part of the 2nd Australian Division in March 1916. With the 28th Battalion, the 26th Battalion mounted the first trench raid undertaken by Australian troops on the Western Front on 6 June 1916. The battalion fought around Pozières and later on the Somme. In early 1917 the 26th Battalion joined the follow-up of the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line and attacked at Warlencourt and Lagincourt. On 3 May 1917 the Battalion was also involved in the second attempt to breach the Hindenburg Line defences around Bullecourt. Later the battalion fought at Menin Road and in the capture of Broodseinde Ridge. Like most AIF battalions, the 26th fought to turn back the German spring offensive in April 1918. In an operation to seize part of the German front the 26th Battalion captured the first German tank to fall into Allied hands, No. 506 Mephisto. Later in 1918 the battalion participated in the great offensive that began on 8 August, its most notable engagement being an attack east of Mont St Quentin on 2 September 1918. Their last action of the war was the capture on 3 October 1918 of Lormisset, part of the operation to breach the Beaurevoir Line. The 26th Battalion was disbanded in May 1919.
(4) "Death - Byrnes, Oliver George - Passed away Thursday September 29 at Goolwa, Aged 74. Loving father of Bruce, Trevor, Jennifer,Dennis, Gill and Graeme Peacefully sleeping. On September 29 at Goolwa, dearly loved father of Jennifer, father in law of Ian, loved grandpa of Ben, Simon and Aimee. Always remembered." Advertiser 30 September 1988;
"Death - Byrnes Oliver. On Saturday, September 29 1988, at Goolwa, Loved brother and brother in law of Doug and Eileen. Rest in peace." Advertiser 1 October 1988.
(5) "Death - Gould William James - On November 23rd at hospital beloved husband of Winifred Gould of Currency Creek. Loved father of Alec, Ross, Jean and Murray. Loved father in law of Sheila and Oliver. Also leaving six grandchildren. Late 26th Battalion, 1st A.I.F. Aged 85 years." Advertiser (Naracoorte, South Australia) 24 November 1965.