GOUGH, Herbert G (#229)

Alan Pollock’s Rough Notes:

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1873491 Sergeant Herbert G GOUGH MM for the CORPS of ROYAL ENGINEERS and the SAPPERS’ WIDE range of SKILLS & TASKS, FORTIFICATION & DEMOLITION, ROADS, RAILWAYS, BRIDGING by BAILEY or PONTOON, BUILDINGS, MINE LAYING and CLEARANCE.

Bert’s Father HERBERT was a SAPPER with the BOMBAY SAPPERS & MINERS in WW1, where MINERS were especially valued – his Uncle ANDREW had been gassed with the ROYAL SCOTS and his Uncle HERBERT had fought in FRANCE qt PASSCHENDAELE.

Bert joined at PONTEFRACT and went through CHATHAM and his first trade was Miner; he served on COASTAL DEFENCE, after an Electrical course, in No.g DEFENSIVE ELECTRIC LIGHT Unit, on the NAVAL FORTS off PORTSMOUTH, as part of defences against enemy E-Boats or Destroyers, also 45 FORTRESS Coy at Southampton; embarked on AQUITANIA, he went to PORT SAID, Kantara and first active service was in PALESTINE, then TUNISIA, the BATTLE of CRETE, NORTH AFRICA, EIGHTH ARMY’s MARETH LINE & the BATTLES of WADI AKARIT and WADI ZIGZAU: a considerable shock, when returning to a late wartime but relaxed UK posting.