Sir John Edmond Gough

He left the column and faced the fire to reach a fallen man.

John Edmond Gough was born at Murree on 25 October 1871, the son of General Sir Charles Gough VC. His uncle Hugh also held the Victoria Cross. Educated at Eton and Sandhurst, he joined the Rifle Brigade in March 1892. His early career took him from India and Ireland to British Central Africa, the Sudan and South Africa, where he served during the Boer War.

The experience made Gough a seasoned officer before his own defining action. In Somaliland he commanded the Bohotle column during operations against the forces of Mohammed Abdullah Hassan. On 22 April 1903, at Daratoleh, a larger opposing force pressed the British column hard. Captain Charles Bruce was mortally wounded and could not be left where he had fallen.

Gough went out into the fire to help bring Bruce in. Captains William George Walker and George Murray Rolland were also recognised for their attempts to save the wounded officer. Gough initially gave prominence to the other men's conduct, but subsequent evidence established his own part in the rescue. His Victoria Cross citation credited the personal risk he took while helping Bruce under heavy enemy fire (London Gazette, 15 January 1904; official Gazette account and citation link: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices/content/167). His award meant that father, son and uncle were simultaneously living holders of the decoration.

Gough's later career combined command, staff work and professional study. He served as an aide-de-camp to Edward VII, returned to Somaliland in command, and became closely associated with Douglas Haig. His writings included a study of the American Civil War battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. In 1913 he became chief of staff at Aldershot with the rank of brigadier-general.

He also played an active and controversial part in the 1914 Curragh crisis, supporting officers who resisted the prospect of military action against Ulster unionists. Months later, despite abdominal illness and surgery, he joined the British Expeditionary Force as Haig's chief of staff. He served through the retreat from Mons and the opening campaigns in France, becoming chief of staff of First Army in December 1914.

A sniper wounded him while he inspected positions near Fauquissart on 20 February 1915. He died at Estaires two days later and was buried there. His widow Dorothea and their daughter Diana survived him. His posthumous knighthood in the Order of the Bath recognised a career cut short before he could take the higher command for which he had been considered.