My thanks go to David and Samantha George for kindly sharing with us a splendid photograph of their relative, William Gould.
Private William Gould served with 1/Welsh (84th Infantry Brigade, 28th Division) in the Struma Valley, where he was killed in action on 28 February 1917. He is buried in the Struma Military Cemetery. Two other men from 1/Welsh were killed on the same day, perhaps in the same incident (shell-fire, an ambush on patrol …? ): 9596 L/Cpl T. Williams and 50081 Private Frank Gore. William was 25 and Frank 28; L/Cpl Williams’ age is not recorded.
It is hoped that the Battalion War Diary will give details of the incident(s) that caused their deaths. Unfortunately those for Macedonia have not been digitised so a visit to the National Archives at Kew is necessary, although it is likely that the Regimental Museum at Brecon will have a copy so David – who lives in Canada – will be contacting them. If, however, you can shed any light on what happened to 1/Welsh on 28 February 1917, please let us know.
William, a native of Pontycymmer, Bridgend was the son of Annie Pugh (formerly Gould), of Cot Cefn, Cribbwr, Bridgend, Glamorgan and the late Thomas Gould. He enlisted October 1914.
Salonika Campaign Society, 1915-1918 