GOUGH, William
| Service Number: | 3344 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1915, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 6th Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Woolowin, Queensland, 13 February 1892 |
| Home Town: | Woombye, Sunshine Coast, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Ironmonger/Telephone mechanic |
| Died: | Natural causes, Woombye, Queensland, 21 April 1944, aged 52 years |
| Cemetery: |
Woombye Cemetery, Qld |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sapper, 3344, 6th Field Company Engineers, Brisbane, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sapper, 3344, 6th Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sapper, 3344, 6th Field Company Engineers, Battle for Pozières | |
| 11 May 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sapper, 3344, 6th Field Company Engineers, Bullecourt (Second) | |
| 31 Jul 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 3344, 6th Field Company Engineers, Third Ypres | |
| 17 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 3344, 6th Field Company Engineers, Menin Road | |
| 17 Sep 1917: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Third Ypres, See related Story | |
| 12 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 3344, 6th Field Company Engineers, 1st Passchendaele | |
| 4 Nov 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 6th Field Company Engineers | |
| 8 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3344, 6th Field Company Engineers, "The Last Hundred Days" |
Award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal - 17th/18th September 1917
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.
Submitted 20 August 2016 by Steve Larkins
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