John Mitchell Gould

Lance Corporal

Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys Regiment) 14871 B.  Coy, 7th Platoon, 16th Battalion
Connought Rangers 6525 2nd Battalion

Lea Mills postcard

John Gould in WW1

Portait courtesy Ruby Gould

John Mitchell Gould in WW1

Notes
John Mitchell Gould was one of the first men to volunteer and he joined the colours on 8th September 1914. He lived on Cromford Hill and he worked in the Factory. His name appears on the Roll of Honour in St. Mary’s Church, Cromford. He had returned to work at the Mill by August 1919. He had been a prominent member of the Boy Scout movement in Cromford.
A newspaper article of the period reported that he had been wounded:
Private John Gould is the son of Mr. Joseph Gould, of Cromford Hill, who joined the Sherwoods, and went out to France not long ago. The report states he has been wounded in the head, and is now in hospital at the base. The wounds are stated not to be serious. He is, we are glad to hear is going on nicely.’
John Gould returned safely to the factory.

Medal Card Index
He was awarded the Victory, British War and 15 Star Medals.
Entered France 14/07/15
10th Notts & Derby 14871
Connaught Rangers L/Cprl 6525

Letters to JB Marsden-Smedley

[Letter from JB Marsden-Smedley]
Lea Green, near Matlock
23 Oct. 1916
Dear Gould,
I have sent you a parcel of eatables from Austin, Grocer, Derby, which I hope you will safely receive, and I shall be pleased to have a letter from you telling me how you are and whether the contents of the parcel are what you like.  I have taken some trouble in choosing these contents and should like to know whether what has been sent is liked, so that I can have some guide when I next want to send you a parcel.
I fear the war is not over yet and that you may be some time away, but I should like  you to know that you are not forgotten and from time to time should like to send you a parcel.  If you want any hosiery or a waistcoat write and let me know and I will do my best to send you what you want.  I believe all the Derbyshire men are to have a parcel at Christmas, sent by a Committee, of which the Duke of Devonshire is chairman.  They have been asking for subscriptions and you will have to look out that you get your parcel.
I hope you are well and that you may have good luck and a safe return.
Yours very truly,
JB Marsden-Smedley
Pte.  John M.  Gould, 14871
B.  Coy, 7th Platoon, 16th Batt., Notts & Derby B. E. F.  France

6525 Pte JM Gould
D Coy, 1st Connaught Rangers, Mesopotamia EF
Dear Sir
Many thanks for the small parcel which I received quite safe and was very welcome, I can assure you.  I had a fairly good Christmas hoping to have a better one next year when I hope to be back at work again.  Wishing you the compliments of the season.
Yours Respectfully
J. Gould

6525 Pte JM Gould
15 Platoon D Coy, 1st Connaught Rangers , Egyptian Ex. Force
May 4, 1918
Dear Sir
It is with great pleasure that I write you these few lines, in thanking you muchly for the parcel which I received quite safe.
You will see by the address what has been taking place, and I think it is a little better country than the one we left.  Hoping this will find you in the best of health as it leaves me and am longing for the time to come when I shall be able to thank you personally for your kindness towards me. 
Yours Respectfully
J. Gould

Lea Mills Certificate to John Mitchell Gould

Courtesy Ruby Gould

Lea Mills Certificate to John Gould in WW1

Newspaper Reports

Derbyshire Times, 14 August 1915
CROMFORD CASUALTIES
Cromford people have heard with regret this week that private John Gould of the 10th Sherwood Foresters and Drummer Bertrand Parker of the 9th Sherwood Foresters, have been wounded. The former was serving in France, and the latter in the Dardanelles. Drummer Parker, who was formerly the assistant Scoutmaster at Cromford, only set sail for the Dardanelles on 1 July, and was wounded on the 26th. No details are to hand as to the extent of his injuries, but the fact that he has himself sent a postcard to his parents, Mr and Mrs F.Parker, of North Street, appears to justify the hope that they are not of an extensive character. Private Gould has been wounded slightly in the head by shrapnel, and is stated to be going on satisfactorily.

High Peak News, 21August 1915
CROMFORD
OUR WOUNDED SOLDIERS

John Gould in WW1

PRIVATE JOHN MITCHELL GOULD
Last week we briefly referred to the fact that two of our brave soldiers had been wounded, one at the Dardanelles, and the other in France. These were Private John M.Gould, son of Mr Joseph Gould, of 61, Cromford Hill, of the Sherwoods, who was wounded in France; and Private Bertram Parker, also of the Sherwoods, son of Mr and Mrs Frank Parker, of 23 North Street, who was wounded at the Dardanelles.
Private Gould's letter home reads: –
"Just a few lines to say I received your letter safe and not the parcel. No doubt you felt a little upset when you received the postcard that I had gone into the hospital wounded. This is only a slight wound in the head, and I think I shall soon be better again. It happened on the Holiday, about 2 o'clock in the morning. We went into the trenches a week last Wednesday July 28th, for 48 hours only, and we should have come out again on the Friday night but we could not then on account of the bombardment which was going on. I have seen several of the chaps from around our way and they all look well, and the lads from Cromford are going on fine."
The notice received from the War Office on Monday morning stated that Gould is suffering from shrapnel wound in the head, and admitted to the first Canadian hospital at –, on the 4th of August. He was with the 10th Derbyshires.

[Unknown newspaper and 1915 date: courtesy Marjorie Whitham]
LOCAL SOLDIERS WOUNDED.
PRIVATES JOHN GOULD AND BERT PARKER.

It was a coincidence that on the same day news came to the relative of two of our soldiers that they had been wounded at the Front, one in France and
the other at the Dardanelles.
Private John GOULD is the son of Mr. Joseph Gould, of Cromford Hill, who joined the Sherwoods, and went out to France not long ago.  The report states he has been wounded in the head, and is now in the hospital at the base. The wounds are stated not to be serious.  He is, we are glad to hear, going on nicely.
Private Bert PARKER joined the Sherwoods, like his comrade, and he is the son of Mr. Frank Parker, of North Street, the well known scorer for the Cromford Cricket Club for many years.  Private Bert Parker is wounded, and no further details are to hand as yet.
It is a splendid item with regard to both these soldiers that they were prominent members of the Boy Scouts movement, at Cromford, long before the
war. Private Parker was Assistant Scoutmaster, and Pte. Gould a member of the Troop.  Everyone in Cromford is proud of Pts. Gould and Parker, and we all trust both will be quickly restored to health and strength. Both worked at the Lea Hosiery Mills before the war broke out.

High Peak News, 28 October 1916
CROMFORD
WAR NEWS

John Gould in WW1

Private J. GOULD
Pte. John Gould, the soldier son of Mr Joseph Gould, of Cromford Hill, is now paying a visit. He has seen splendid service on the Somme and taken part in most of the battles there including Thiepal. etc. Pte. Gould has been in hospital, but is, we are glad to say, progressing satisfactorily. He is having a fine welcome home.

High Peak News, 12th October 1918
CROMFORD
INTERESTING WAR LETTER

John Gould, the son of Mr Joseph Gould, has written an interesting letter home that cigarettes are man's only comfort on war service. He had come across Frank Cowlishaw, of Whatstandwell. who wished to be remembered to cousin John, uncle George, Dick Clay, Percy Clay, Frank Bestwick; and he further says Frank Allen, from the Wharf, is working with him, but at that time was down the line and sick,. The writer says he has had the pleasure of visiting Jerusalem, and he describes many of the places so familiar to all students of Biblical history. He concludes with the remark, "Shall not be away long," so brighter prospects are evidently entertained by our friends.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: 64 Main Street, Cromford

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Joseph Gould Head 33 Gritstone ? Cromford
Ann Gould wife 34   Middleton
John M Gould son 4   Cromford
William Gould son 3   Cromford
Julia Ann Gould mother (wid) 64   Cromford

RG13 piece 3265 folio 75 page 31

1911: 64 Cromford Hill

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Robert Joseph Gould Head 43 Assistant foreman cotton doubling mill Cromford
Ann Gould wife 44   Middleton
John Gould son 14 Hosiery frame tender Cromford
William Gould son 13 Tape weaving fitter Cromford
George Gould son 9 School Cromford
Samuel Gould son 7 School Cromford
Elizabeth Gould daughter 6 School Cromford
Julia Gould daughter 3   Cromford

RG14PN21214 RG78PN1262 RD439 SD2 ED16 SN115