GOUGH William

Ironmonger and Telephone Mechanic on enlistment.
Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal on 20 November 1917.
Discharged 19 July 1919.
1916 MAR 19 - Bill leaves Egypt for France as a Sapper in the 6th Field Company Engineers because of his engineering background. They are with the 1st and 2nd divisions under General Birdwood, the first Australian troups to reach France.
APR 4 - He starts his diary which he will keep writing until he returns to Brisbane in 1919. He sees action at Pozieres, Bullecourt, Somme and Passchendaele.
Deed for which Distinguished Conduct Medal was awarded to No. 3344 W. Gough D.C.M. 6th F.C.E.
On 17th and 18th September, 1917, Cpl. Gough was assisting large parties of Infantry who were carrying and laying materials for a duckboard track from near Lake Helleware to about 300 yards north west of Westhoek. A great deal of this work lay in an enemy barrage zone and the parties consisting largely of new reinforcements were on several occasions dispersed and partially disorganised by shelling. On each occasion, however, Cpl. Gough, by great gallantry rallied the parties, and so inspired them by his bravery and devotion to duty that in two nights over 1,000 yards of extremely important track was constructed.
On one occasion, after completing his track, Cpl. Gough went into a heavy barrage to rescue a wounded man, whom he carried over 500 yards to the nearest R.A.P.
Cpl. Gough has repeatedly shown the greatest gallantry in action and total disregard of danger ever since the arrival of the division in France, and has constantly inspired his men by his splendid example.Deed for which Distinguished Conduct Medal was awarded to No. 3344 W. Gough D.C.M. 6th F.C.E.

QER from 1919 Fruit grower living at Woombye.

Further information:
GOUGH, WILLIAM
Sergeant, D.C.M., 6th Field Company, Australian Engineers, 1st AIF.
b. c.1892 Brisbane, Qld.
d. 21.04.1944 Woombye, Qld.
Parents: Joseph Gough and Agnes Glass Stuart Turnbull.
William Gough’s experience as an ironworker and moulder with the International Boring Company and draughtsman for the Company of Engineers came from the time of his youth in Brisbane when he was apprenticed to the ironworkers and moulders trade with the International Boring Company. He also studied as a draughtsman.
In August 1915, William enlisted in the AIF and served with the 6th Field Company of Australian Engineers. He served in Egypt, then in France where he assisted parties of infantrymen who came under a constant enemy barrage while they were laying a duckboard track near Lake Bellewaarde. It was a golden opportunity for one British company that seized an opportunity to make boards to provide to troops building the walkways.
Corporal Gough rallied the men and inspired them to work under extreme circumstances, to the point where they laid over 1000 yards of important and much needed track in just two nights. Gough’s bravery was evident when he ran into heavy shellfire to rescue a wounded man and carried him to safety at the nearest Aid Station.
William Gough saw action at Pozieres, Bullecourt, Somme and Passchendaele and showed such great gallantry and courage in action in the face of danger that in September 1917 he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was later promoted to the Rank of Sergeant.
Gough was honourably discharged 19th July 1919 and moved to the Woombye district to take up cane and pineapple farming. For the two years before his untimely death at the age of 52, he served as an inspector in the pineapple cannery section of the Committee of Direction of Fruit Marketing.
William Gough married Gladys May Bennett on 5th July 1919. They had two children, a boy and a girl. He was a devoted husband and father who was mourned by many when he died at his home on Friday, 21st April 1944, aged 52 years.
Sources: National Archives of Australia; The Nambour Chronicle April 1944.

From the Genealogy Sunshine Coast publication
“AND THEIR NAMES SHALL LIVE FOREVER…”
REMEMBERING MILITARY PERSONNEL IN THE OLD MAROOCHY SHIRE CEMETERIES – BOOK 1, WOOMBYE

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/78052643 Obituary: Mr. William Gough The death occurred suddenly at his residence, Woombye, on Friday evening last, of Mr. William Gough, at the age of 52 years. The late Mr. Gough was born in Brisbane and after his school days, was apprenticed to the ironworkers' and moulders' trade with the International Boring Company. He also studied as a draughtsman. Returning from the Great War he moved to the Woombye district and took up cane and pineapple farming near the overhead bridge. Enlisting in August 1915, the late Mr. Gough, served in Egypt and France and it was during September, 1917, he, as a corporal in the 6th Field Coy. Australian Engineers, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The official citation read: 'On 17th and 18th September, 1917, Cpl. Gough was assisting large parties of Infantry who were carrying and laying materials for a duckboard track from near Lake Bellewarde to about 300 yards north west of Westhoek. A great deal of this work lay in an enemy barrage zone and the parties consisting largely of new reinforcements were on several occasions dispersed and partially disorganised by shelling. On each occasion, however, Cpl. Gough, by great gallantry rallied the parties, and so inspired them by his bravery and devotion to duty that in two nights over 1,000 yards of extremely important track was constructed. On one occasion, after completing his task, Cpl. Gough went into a heavy barrage to rescue a wounded man, whom he carried over 500 yards to the nearest R.A.P. Cpl. Gough has repeatedly shown the greatest gallantry in action and total disregard of danger ever since the arrival of the division in France, and has constantly inspired his men by his splendid example." Later, Corporal Gough was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. For the last two years, the late Mr. Gough was an inspector in the pineapple cannery section of the Committee of Direction. Besides his widow, deceased is survived by two children, Miss Dorothy Gough (Woombye), and Mr. Eric Gough (P.M.G. Department, Brisbane), also four brothers - Messrs G. and L. V. Gough (Brisbane), H. Gough (Mapleton) and Pilot-Officer F. Gough (Bundaberg), and two sisters, Mesdames J. J. and T. M. Wilson (Brisbane). The funeral moved to the Woombye cemetery on Saturday, the Rev. G. T. Hobbs officiating at the graveside. Floral tributes were received from: His loving wife, daughter and son; Agnes, Jack and family; Geo., May and family; Harry, Nora and family; Nell, Norm and family; Frank, Lot and family; Les, Win and family; Grandma Bennett and family; Hilda; all the Perrotts; the Wilson family; Harry and Elsie Wilson; R.S.S.A.I.L.A., Nambour Branch; Women's Auxiliary R.S. S.A.I.L.A.; Committee of Direction of Fruit Marketing: Technical Staff, Broadcasting Section, P.M.G. Department; St. Margaret's Guild. Woombye: Woombye Branch A.C.F.; Bayards and staff; Pride of Maroochy Lodge No. 62. P.A.F.S.O.A.; Woombye Branch C.W.A.; Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Brookes; Mr. and Mrs A Brinkley and family; Mr and Mrs. S. G. Hungerford; Mr. and Mrs. Ball, Annand Ness; Major and Mrs. Bolinbroke; (Bill. Mrs. Buhk and family; Bob, Mrs. Francis and family; Alan and Mrs. Brook; Mr. and Mrs. H. Mondientz; Mr. and Mrs. E. E McNall and family; the Kerlin family; McLoughlin family; R. H. and Miss Whalley: the Wilkes family; Mr. and Mrs. W. Holt and family; Mr. and Mrs. D. Klassen; Harry Grandwater; Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Hart; Mr. and Mrs. H. Schulz; Mr. and Mrs. Walker; Mrs. E. Byquar; Elsie Rosendahl; Enid Mackay.

• Bullecourt
• Passchendaele
• Pozieres
• Somme