John Ould
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Ould was born in Radford in 1895 the eldest son of Richard a leather finisher Catherine Ould née Hull of Radcliffe-on-Trent. His father Richard was born in 1869 in Leeds and his mother Catherine was born in 1875 in Radcliffe on Trent, they were married in 1893 in Nottingham and went on to have 6 children , sadly one died in infancy before 1911. In the 1911 census he is shown as being 15 years of age and living on Bingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent, with mother Catherine, charwoman (housework) and his sisters Margaret 16, Ellen 12, brothers Charles 9 and Richard 7. He is employed as a printer at Edmund Wright’s, Bailey Lane. Catherine is recorded as wife not head of the family (father absent on the night of the Census?) At the age of 17 he emigrated to Australia on 29th July 1913 on the ship Port Lincoln owned by the Milburn steamship line from London Tilbury to Melbourne.
John enlisted on 22nd March 1915 in Melbourne, Australia giving his age as 21 years 5 months (according to his birth date he was 19 years 7 months old) he gave his occupation as farm hand , he was described as Height 5 feet 8¾ inches, weight 11 stone 0lbs, chest 35½ inches, complexion medium, eyes brown, hair brown; religion Church of England . From 22nd March 1915 to 28th April 1915 he was serving at the depot of B Coy 24th Battalion, Australian Infantry, on 30th August 1915 he proceeded to join the Mediteraenian Expeditionary Force on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. On the 6th November 1915 he was promoted temporary Corporal and by 30th November 1915 had been promoted to temporary Sergeant. He was eventually withdrawn from Gallipoli and on 10th January 1916 he disembarked Mudros at Alexandria On the 20th March 1916 he proceeded to join British Expeditionary Force in Alexandria and by the 26th March had disembarked at Marseilles, France He died three days before 21st birthday.The Australian Red Cross files state in a letter dated Boulogne 2nd Jan. 1917 that he died of wounds at No. 13 General Hospital, Boulogne, on 8th August 1916, he was admitted to the hospital on this date in a moribund condition, with severe infection, he had a gun shot wound with compound fracture of the femur and gas gangrene had set in , he died on the same day and was buried on 10th August 1916 at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery
In memoriam published 8th August 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “OULD. – In ever loving memory of my dear son, Sergeant J. Ould, Australians, died of wounds August 8th, 1916, age 20. Ever in our thoughts. Silently mourned, sadly missed. – Loving mother, sisters, and brothers. “OULD. – In proud and loving memory of my dear brother, Sergeant John Ould, Australians, died of wounds August 8th, 1916. Ever remembered. – His loving sister Maggie and Bert.” In memoriam published 8th August 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “OULD. – In proud and cherished memory of my dear son, Sgt. John Ould (Australians), died of wounds August 8th, 1916. His life was ambition, we hope he got his commission in heaven. – Loving mother, sisters and brothers, Charley in Navy, Ivy Bailey, Australia. “OULD. – In ever-loving memory of my dear brother, Sergt. John Ould (Australians), died of wounds August 8th, 1916. Peace, perfect peace. – Loving sister Maggie, Bert.” Above in memoriam are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
