GOLDING, Hugh
| Service Number: | 2066 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 February 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Atherstone, Warwickshire, England, 1888 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Melbourne Rd School, Leicester, England |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in action, Bullecourt, France, 11 April 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2066, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Apr 1915: | Involvement Private, 2066, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: '' | |
| 13 Apr 1915: | Embarked Private, 2066, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kyarra, Sydney |
Help us honour Hugh Golding's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Hugh Golding was born in England and came to Sydney, Australia, just before the outbreak of war. He was a clerk and the son of Pearson and Emily Golding of Leicester, England.
He enlisted in early 1915 and joined the 13th Battalion on Gallipoli on 13 July 1915. He was evacuated with septic hands a month later.
He was wounded at Pozieres on 10 August 1916, a bomb wound to the chest. He was only out of action for a month.
Hugh Golding was recommended for a Military Medal for his work on the night the 13th Battalion attacked and held Stormy Trench against a series of German counter attacks. He did not receive a Military Medal; the unit probably exceeded a quota of medals that night. His mother noted on his roll of honour form that he had received a Congratulatory Card from Major General W.H. Holmes, C.O. of the 4th Division AIF, ‘for his good work under fire during an attack 4/5 February 1917.’
His recommendation for the M.M. reads
“During the attack on enemy trenches east of Gueudecourt on night 4/5th of February, 1917, he was an example all in his vicinity conducting himself with great coolness and determination. After its capture he worked unceasingly in the defence of the newly won position, influencing those in his vicinity to greater effort by his brave and cheerful manner. Later he volunteered as a Stretcher Bearer and worked with untiring energy under the heaviest shellfire removing wounded from No Man’s Land to the shelter of the trenches, and later to dressing stations. He continued in this work with great credit throughout the operation.”
Hugh Golding was killed in action at Bullecourt only two months later, when the 13th Battalion suffered heavily during a badly planned attack and were trapped for some considerable time in the Hindenburg line after breaking into the German trenches.