JOHN NOEL GOUGH 

C.W.G.C. remember a John Noel Gough, 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery, died 8th March 1918, at the Oxford Road Cemetery, Belgium. (V.D.23.) Secondary Unit Attd. Y29th Trench Mortar Bty. Son of Henry and Frieda Magdalena Gough of “Highfield House” Northwich.

Cheshirebmd records the birth of a John N. Gough in 1898, Weaverham. The 1911 census has the Gough family living at Nether Lea, Beech Road, Weaverham, father Henry Edward Gough, aged 46, Physician, Medical Officer, born Manchester; Frieda Magdalena aged 44, born Manchester; George Henry Waldron aged 18, school, born Barton; Ernest Harley aged 15, school, born Barnton; Edward Powell aged 10, school, born Northwich; Lila Mary aged 1, born Davenham. John Noel Gough is missing thought to be at school somewhere but not found.

N.A.M.C. have a card for a John Noel Gough, Cadet Gunner Reg’t No 175117 and Royal Horse Artillery, Att. 29th Trench Mortar Battery Second Lieutenant. Awarded the British and Victory medals. Theatre of War France and Date of Entry 31/3/17. Died 8/3/18.

15th March 1918 Northwich Guardian DR. GOUGH’S SECOND BEREAVEMENT. ANOTHER OFFICER SON FALLS.

Dr. and Mrs Gough of Highfield, Northwich have suffered a second bereavement by the war in four months. In November last they had news of the death in action of their eldest son, Lieutenant George H. W. Gough, and on Wednesday a telegram was received from the War Office informing them that another son Second-Lieutenant John Noel Gough was killed in action on Friday last. He attained his 20th birthday on December 11th 1917 and was the third son of Dr. and Mrs Gough. When the war broke out he was at King’s School Canterbury, where he held the position of a monitor and was a sergeant in the O.T.C. He had obtained his London Matriculation and just before joining the Colours, in the latter part of 1915, he gained an exhibition, tenable at Cambridge University. Lieutenant Gough’s introduction to the Army was the outcome of an inspection of the O.T.C. at the school by a representative of the War Office. This officer was so favourably impressed with the general smartness of young Gough in the various manoeuvrers - and particularly in the bayonet exercise – that he nominated him as a cadet and after about a month at Dover he went into training at a cadet school. He obtained his commission on February 14th 1917 and was gazetted to the Royal Field Artillery and on March 31st he was drafted to the front, attached to the Trench Mortar Brigade. In November last he came home on a month’s furlough and two days before he was due to return the news came of the death of his elder brother. The last letter written by the deceased officer to his parents reached them on Tuesday the 5th inst. Dr. Gough who is a medical officer to the Northwich Urban and Rural Authorities has another son still serving with the forces as an officer with the R.F.A.

& brother Ernest

Ernest Harley Gough must be the son still serving and likely to be the lad with the Royal Garrison Artillery, Second Lieutenant, awarded the 15 Star, British and Victory Medals, T.o.W Mesopotamian, D.o.E. ?-12-15.

& brother George

Gough George Henry Waldron; The first son who had been killed. C.W.G.C. remember a George Henry Waldron Gough, Lieutenant, 1st/7th Bn. Cheshire Reg’t. Died 15th December 1917 aged 23 at the Jerusalem War Cemetery Israel and Palestine (Including Gaza) R.48. Son of Henry Edward Gough, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. of Highfield House, Northwich.

Researh Bob Heaton