SERVICE PERSON RESEARCH
SERVICE PERSON DETAILS
Service Person’s
Name
John Joseph Goulding
Rank
Private
Service Number
Regiment/Unit or
Ship or Squadron
Date of Birth
555
Place of Birth
Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England
Family Details
Mother: Mrs. Julia Alice Goulding
Age at Enlistment
32
Place of Enlistment
Brisbane, Queensland
Date of Death
Between 19 July 1916 and 30 October 1916
Place of Death
Prisoner of War
Cemetery or
Memorial Name
Grave or Memorial
Number
Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France. Australian National
Memorial, Villers- Bretonneux
31st Battalion, B Company HMAT A62 Wandilla
1883
IV. D. 1
PHOTO:
Australian War Memorial 2015, DA11519, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/DA11519/ (accessed 5
March 2015)
SERVICE PERSON’S STORY/EULOGY:
Prepared by Lycharne Parkinson
John Joseph Goulding was born in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England in 1883. He and his family immigrated to
Australia in 1889 when John was at the early age of six. He attended Southport State School before moving
to Brisbane and began to work as a labourer. John was single and never married, however he was a much
beloved son of his parents.
He enlisted in the Australian Army as a Private in Brisbane, Queensland on 30 August 1915, originally
enlisting in Brisbane to serve in South Africa. He was assigned to the B Company in the 31st Battalion which
embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on 9 November 1915. The unit embarked on board the HMAT A62
Wandilla and disembarked on 7 December 1915 in Suez.
Goulding served on the Western Front in France and was a part of the bloody battle that occurred at
Fromelles. This was the major war fought on the Western Front and from the 5,533 soldiers, 470
Australian’s were captured as prisoners of war, John Joseph Goulding being one of many. Although
successful on gaining ground, the lack of support, lack of reinforcements and inexperience drove the
Australian soldiers into the hands of the Germans. The officers were separated from their men and the
treatment of these prisoners was harsh. The prisoners of war were taken to a German collecting station on
20 July 1916 and then dispersed across Germany to imprisonment camps.
John Joseph Goulding was reported missing and died the day of his capture as a prisoner of war however
there were inaccuracies regarding his death date. The cemetery details stated that Goulding died as a
prisoner of war between 19 July and 30 October 1916. There was also uncertainty whether Goulding was
buried in mass graves in Germany whilst a prisoner of war on 14 March 1917. He may have only served for
a short time but was awarded 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Mrs Goulding was not informed of any information about her son, writing to the Officer in Charge, Base
Records, Australian Imperial Force Headquarters London in 1919 stating “I am writing to inquire of my son
John Joseph GOULDING… who was reported missing since 19 July 1916. I have not received anything
belonging to him [since a parcel] was sent form Germany sometime during 1917 with a promise that
further inquiries would be made and I would be notified… I have awaited with an aching heart for news of
him, if only I could know that he did not suffer too much from the Huns if he fell in their hands… My son
left Australia to do his bit for the country, he was born in England. He did not stand long but I do hope that
sometime further will be made known to me although three years has passed it seems but as yesterday. I
am still waiting. First missing as a Prisoner of War, then killed in action. I know he was not the only by
thousands but he was my son, just lent to me for 35 years and then missing. He has paid the price as many
others have done but in all the world there is not love like a mother’s love for her children if she is ever
poor, if a true woman… The suspense is what makes it so hard. May I please ask will you try and find any
record of him, my boy, and oblige.”
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Australian Red Cross Society 2015, Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau Files, 1914-18 War 1DRL/0428,
555 Private John Joseph Goulding 31st Battalion
http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1038793--1-.PDF (accessed 28 February 2015)
Australian War Memorial 2015, DA11519, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/DA11519/
(accessed 20 February 2015)
Australian War Memorial 2015, Battle of Fromelles, https://www.awm.gov.au/military-event/E159/
(accessed 20 February 2015)
Find a Grave 2015, John Joseph Goulding
http://www.findagrave.com/cgibin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=16183098&PIpi=102753107
(accessed 20th February 2015)
National Archives of Australia 2015, Goulding John Joseph: SERN 555
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch/Interface/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=4669026&isAv=N
(accessed 20th February 2015)
The AIF Project, John Joseph GOULDING- AIF Project 2015
https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=115434 (accessed 20th February 2015)