Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Vic. BDM: Birth: Richard Edmund Gouge. M: Frances Charlotte Crow. F: John Gouge. B: Box Hill. Reg. Year 1894. Reg. No. 26950/1894.

The Reporter Box Hill, Friday 16 August 1918, Page 4

Private Richard Edmund Gouge, third son of Mr and Mrs John Gouge, of Zetland Road, was killed in action, in France, on July 4. The bereaved parents only a month previously had lost their only daughter, and the second death in the family within such a short period made their burden all the harder to bear. The deceased soldier was a fine of youthful Australian manhood.  He was a general favourite with all whom he came in contact and being of a sociable disposition was connected with the Box Hill Wattle club, also a local lacrosse player, and a member of the Box Hill tent I.O.R. "Dick", as he was familiarly known was Born in Box Hill, and was educated at the local state school.  For a number of years prior to enlisting he was employed in the Melbourne firm of Messrs. Cox and Mailer, by whom he was held in the highest esteem.  A practical evidence of the popularity he enjoyed was shown by the numerous expressions of sympathy the family received, regretting the demise of such a worthy son, who was cut off at the early age of 24 years.  He had seen about two years and five months' active service, having sailed from Australia on April 4 1916.  After going to France, he was in the trenches for about three months, when he contracte dysentery, and was in consequence laid up ill in hospital for two months.  From there he was sent to England, and again was an inmate of a hospital for a couple of months, from where on recovering he was sent to Perron Downs and appointed an orderly room clerk a position he held for over six months.  That occupation he could have followed for the duration of the war, but he yearned to again take his place in the front line, and when his old comrade, the late Len Coe, came on the scene, with the orders to go back to France, Private Gouge felt that his duty strongly urged him in the same direction.  The authorities, however, could not spare him from his present post but he took matters in his own hands by throwing up the job.  He was the made drill instructor for a few weeks, after which which he again made application tyo go back to the firing line, and this time he was allowed to rejoin his old companions.  Going into the trenches in Belgium opn New Year's Day last, he took part in strenuous battles on the Australian front there, and afterwards in France until his death.  In one letter to his relatives, he said he had not had his clothes off for 22days, except his boots and puttees, and those for about eight of those days.  On account of the big offensive his leave to Paris was cancelled.  His battalion was right in the thick of the fighting, and dozens of his pals were either killed or wounded.  Len Coe, dying of wounds received at Villers-Bretonneux.  The battalion had a nice cross made for his grave, with his name and all the particulars on it.  For months, Private Gouge was in hopes of getting out of the trenches for a spell, but they were holding a very important position the key position to Amiens so they had to hold it at all costs.  It was there that the Victorian battalion to which he belonged made such a great name for itself.  On one occasion he was away from his battalion for about 10 days on guard duty at corps headquarters, 15 miles behind the line.  They were selected frpm the whole brigade, and it was regarded as a post of honor on account of the chosen few being the oldest men in the company.