SERGEANT FRANCIS BLAKEMORE GOUGH
3300 – 1st Tunnelling Company
Francis Blakemore Gough was born in Gympie on June 18, 1887 the son of Francis and Helena (nee Dillon) Gough. He married Margaret Richie on March 9, 1911 in Queensland. In 1913 their address was Little Street, Red Hill, Brisbane. Previous military service was nine months with the A.A.M.C. and had been previously rejected for service due to defective teeth.
At the Brisbane Recruiting Depot on January 5, 1916 at twenty-eight years of age he enlisted for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination Attestation Forms were completed describing him as 166cms (5ft 5½ins) tall, weighing 60.4kgs (133lbs), with a chest measurement of 84-92cms (34-36ins). Fresh in complexion with blue eyes and brown hair and had good vision. Religious faith was Roman Catholic. Next-of-kin was his wife Mrs Margaret Gough at Little Street off Windsor Road, Red Hill, Brisbane and allotted three-fifths of his pay in support of his family. He signed and took ‘The Oath of Allegiance’ the same day.
At Enoggera camp, Brisbane basic training commenced on January 7, 1916 with the 11th Depot Battalion until March 3 when he was transferred to the Miners’ Depot (1st Military District) and recruited to the No. 4 Tunnelling Company. His regimental number was 3300 and was promoted to the rank of Acting Corporal on April 1, 1916 and confirmed on May 16, 1916.
The recruits formed part of the No. 4 Company which embarked from Brisbane, Qld early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW. Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.
The 7713-ton transport departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No. 5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No. 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.
Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 added No. 6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs departing the same day.
Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where Away without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather terminating at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front.
The Reinforcements proceeded to France on August 29, 1916 marching into the 2nd Aust Divisional Base Depot a day later. On September 23 he was attached to the 1st Tunnelling Company and taken on strength four days later.
On December 29, 1916 he went to the 6th London Field Ambulance with Bronchitis and transferred to recuperate at the 47th Divisional Rest Station on January 4, 1917. He was discharged to duty from the N.M Casualty Clearing Station and rejoined on January 12.
For twelve months service he was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform. A promotion to the rank of Sergeant was issued on November 1, 1917.
Service continued without incident until he proceeded on leave on March 16, 1918 and returned on April 14.
He went to hospital sick to the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital on June 29 moving to the 6th General Hospital at Rouen on July 1, 1918. Recuperation took place at the 2nd Convalescent Depot but while there became ill with Adenitis (Inflammation of a gland). He entered the 39th General Hospital at Havre N.Y.D. (not yet diagnosed) on July 16 and transferred to the 2nd General Hospital on July 23 with N.Y.D. (anaemic).
From Havre was invalided to England on the hospital ship Essequito on August 4, 1918 entering the County of Middlesex War Hospital in Napsbury a day later diagnosed with Filariasis (slight) (Tropical disease cause by thread-like parasitic worms, resulting in large swellings.)
Released to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital in Harefield on August 26, 1918 was discharged to Furlough on September 3 and to report to the No. 2 Command Depot on September 12, 1918. He marched into Weymouth Depot to await his voyage home.
On October 10, 1918 embarked for home on board H.T. Borda for discharge due to Neurasthenia (Nervous condition, constantly worried to point of exhaustion) and Filariasis. Next-of-kin were advised by Base Records of his impending return on November 24, 1918.
The ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) and he departed about December 10, 1918 for Brisbane (1st M.D.)
Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on February 22, 1919 as medically unfit.
In 1919 their address was Kate Street, Newmarket, Brisbane and they remained there all their lives.
The British War Medal (17062) and the Victory Medal (16665) were issued to Sergeant 3300 Francis Blakemore Gough, 1st Tunnelling Company for service for his country.
Statement of Service was issued on September 28, 1936 to the Repatriation Commission in Brisbane.
He was quoted in The Courier-Mail on Wednesday October 2, 1940 when petrol rationing began during World War II.
He was a dedicated member of the Brisbane Past Grand Lodge during the 1930’s holding office as President and Vice-President and a representative of the Lodge at various times and was also a guest speaker. He is photographed among the members of Edmund MacDonnell Lodge, No. 31 U.G.L. published in The Courier-Mail on Wednesday October 19, 1927:
During World War II he enlisted with the Australian Army on April 28, 1941 from Alderley, Brisbane and assigned the regimental number Q120010 attaining the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1. Next-of-kin was his wife Margaret Gough. He served with Headquarters Qld in the Line of Command Area until discharged on November 14, 1946.
Francis Blakemore Gough died on January 17, 1964 aged 76 years. Arrangements were printed in The Courier-Mail on Saturday January 18, 1964:
The Gough family plot is located in Portion 29A of the Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane within Section 32 in Graves 9/1