2nd Lieutenant John Noel Leigh GOUGH
26th Battery, Royal Field Artillery attached to X/29th Trench Medium Mortar Battery

Date of birth: 11th December 1897
Date of death: 8th March 1918

Killed in action aged 20
Buried at Oxford Road Cemetery near Ypres Plot V Row D Grave 23
He was born at Barnton in Northwich on the 11th of December 1897 the third son of Dr Henry Edward Gough MRCS LRCP Medical Officer for health in Northwich Rural and Urban districts and Frieda Magdalena (nee Gotz) of Highfield House, Northwich in Cheshire.

He was educated at Elstree Preparatory School from 1907 to December 1911 and at the King’s School Canterbury from January 1912 to July 1916, being appointed as a monitor in May 1916. He won the lower school prize for mathematics in 1912. He was awarded his sports colours for 1915/16 as a steeplechaser and was Captain of the 1st XV Rugby team in 1915/16.

The Cantuarian wrote of his 1915 season:-

"A vigorous and hard working forward, improving in the science of the game but rather slow. Has captained the side with energy and judgement during the latter half of the season."

He was a member of the Officer Training Corps from January 1912 to the 3rd of August 1916, becoming Sergeant in January 1916. He was a member of the Debating Society, and became Hon Secretary of the Cantuarian in May 1916. He won the prize in the school photographic competition in the summer of 1915 and was presented with it in the old library on the 25th of September 1915. He was elected to the Sports Committee in December 1915 and was Vice President of the Photographic Society in the summer of 1916.

He won the Parker Exhibition to Corpus Christi College Cambridge in 1916 but volunteered for active service and enlisted at Canterbury as Cadet Gunner 175117 in the Royal Horse Artillery on the 27th of May 1916. At a medical examination, which was held on the same day, it was recorded that he was five feet ten and three eighth inches tall and that he weighed 135lbs.

He was based as a Cadet with the Royal Garrison Artillery at Dover Garrison when he applied for a commission on the 23rd of July 1916 in an application which was supported by Algernon Latter, Headmaster of the King's School Canterbury. He was posted for officer training on the 27th of July 1916 and was joined B Reserve Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery at St John's Wood the following day. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery (Special Reserve) on the 13th of February 1917 and was attached to the Dover Garrison as a bayonet instructor.

He embarked for France on the 31st of March 1917 where he was attached to 26th Battery, Royal Field Artillery from the 18th of May to August 1917. In the summer of 1917 he became engaged to Miss Welthin Elizabeth Mitchell of Helmes Chapel. She was later married to Frederick Meinerts Hahn on the 23rd of July 1921.

In August 1917 he transferred to Z and Y/29th Trench Mortar Battery until the 4th of February 1918 when he transferred to X/29th Medium Trench Mortar Battery.

On the 8th of March 1918 John Gough and another officer left Poperinghe with men of Y29 Trench Mortar Battery to take over some gun positions near Ypres from 8th Division. Later that day he was killed and one other rank was wounded and was evacuated to hospital.

His father received the following telegram: -

"Deeply regret to inform you 2nd Lieutenant J.N. Gough RFA attached Y29 Trench Mortar Battery killed in action March eighth, The Army Council express their sympathy."

The Cantuarian wrote:-

"There are many of us here, who knew him at school; it is indeed but a little while since he was amongst us. We remember well his keenness and vigour in all branches of the school life, on the football field, in the Corps and on the monotorial staff. Behind the constant cheerfulness, that he showed in all his acts, lay a deep feeling for the greater things, which was just as much a part of his nature."

His elder brother, Lieutenant George Henry Waldron Gough (OKS) 1/7th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, was killed in action on the 15th of December 1917. Their father instituted the “Gough Photographic Prizes” at the school in their memory

There is a memorial plaque to the Gough brothers in the parish church, Northwich.
 

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