The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Captain Elwyn Samuel Gould, 27th Infantry Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Ricahrd Cruise, the story for this day was on Captain Elwyn Samuel Gould, 27th Infantry Battalion, AIF, First World War.

Captain Elwyn Samuel Gould, 27th Infantry Battalion, AIF
KIA 9 October 1917
Story delivered 7 November 2018

Today we remember and pay tribute to Captain Elwyn Samuel Gould.

Elwyn Gould was born on 13 July 1893 in Adelaide, the only son of Samuel and Julia Gould. He grew up in the western suburbs of Adelaide.

While at Unley State School, he was awarded a scholarship to attend the School of Art and Design in Adelaide. After further education at the School of Mines, he undertook a three-year apprenticeship with Alfred Wells, an architect with offices in the Brookman’s Building, and was eventually admitted as an associate of the South Australian Institute of Architects. He was also a member of the Malvern Methodist Church and Sunday School.

Elwyn Gould came from a family with strong military ties. His father, Samuel, had organised the No. 1 Battalion of Senior Cadets and continued in command as major, later becoming recruiting officer for Port Adelaide.

Gould had been involved in continuous service from the age of 12, first with cadets and senior cadets, and then as second lieutenant with the Citizens Forces. He enlisted in April 1915 and was appointed to the 27th Battalion with the rank of lieutenant.

The 27th Battalion embarked for the Middle East on the troopship Geelong in late May and continued training in Egypt. An urgent request for reinforcements led to them being sent to Gallipoli, where they landed on 12 September. Attached to the 7th Brigade, the 27th reinforced the battle-worn Anzac forces by taking a defensive position on Cheshire Ridge.

In late October Gould became sick with a case of enteric fever that saw him sent back to Australia at the end of the year for rest and recuperation.

It wasn’t until April 1916 that Gould was declared medically fit for further active duty. About a month later he left Adelaide to join his unit at the Western Front.

In early January 1917, Gould was promoted to captain and given command of B Company of the 27th Battalion. At this time, the 7th Brigade, including the 27th Battalion, moved into the Le Sars sector where they took over from British units holding the line near Mametz.

On 27 February, Gould was wounded near Warlencourt in France, receiving gun shot wounds to his head and leg. The wounds were severe enough to warrant him being sent to Wandsworth Hospital in London. After recovering, Gould spent some leave time in Paris before returning to duty in July.

The 27th Battalion’s next major engagement took place on 20 September when it took part in the battle of Menin Road. Advancing under a cover of artillery and machine-gun fire, the battalion captured a section of the German line between Polygon Wood and a position known as the Iron Cross Redoubt.

Following the success of Menin Road, the battalion was engaged in the Battle of Broodseinde. On 4 October the 27th Battalion advanced and successfully dug into the rear of the first objective. The 26th Battalion were to take the second objective, but were held up by machine-gun fire, so the 27th Battalion’s A and B Companies – with Gould commanding B Company – were sent to assist. The second objective was taken with their help. After being relieved for a few days, on 9 October, the 27th Battalion was moved forward to operate as reserve to the 5th and 6th Brigades. During the operation casualties were heavy. Amongst the dead was Captain Elwyn Gould.

Little is known of the manner of his death. Captain Elwyn Gould was buried at Passchendaele New British Cemetery where he lies today under the words “Beloved only son of Major and Mrs. Samuel Gould of Malvern, S. A.”. He was 24 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Captain Elwyn Samuel Gould, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Duncan Beard
Editor, Military History Section