The AIF Project

Harold Ernest St John GOUGH

Regimental number223
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFarmer
AddressSmithton, Tasmania
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation24
Next of kinLawrence Gough, 121 Loveday Road, West Ealing, London, England
Enlistment date20 August 1914
Rank on enlistmentDriver
Unit name3rd Field Ambulance, C Squadron
AWM Embarkation Roll number26/46/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A7 Medic on 2 November 1914
Regimental number from Nominal RollCommissioned
Rank from Nominal RollLieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll51st Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 28 February 1919
Medals

Military Medal

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst driver in charge of a Horsed Ambulance Wagon in the operations near ZONNEBEKE east of YPRES on 13th October, 1917. On the date mentioned at 3.30 p.m. whilst the YPRES ZONNEBEKE Road was being heavily shelled and all traffic was suspended, Driver GOUGH was informed that there was another load of severely wounded men lying out in the open at the Wagon loading post - he made his lead drivers unhook his team and returned with his Wagon and remaining horses and successfully brought the wounded to safety. Again on the 19th October, 1917 whilst working on the same road a shell fell between the horses - the leaders escaped, but the shaft horses were blown to the ground. Driver GOUGH remained on the Box and screwed his brake down hard thus preventing his loaded Wagon from capsizing although one wheel was half way down the shell hole. He then unhooked the un-injured horses and harnessing them to a spare Wagon further up the road returned, and transferred the casualties (with help) from the damaged Wagon to the new one and brought them to safety.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 95
Date: 27 June 1918

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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