Private 51432 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
Died 21 January 1919 aged 21
Remembered on Ash War Memorial
Buried in St Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France

Charles Gough was born in 1897 in the parish of Winkfield near Ascot, the eldest son of Charles Frederick Gough and his wife Emma. The family lived in Railway View Cottage, Sunninghill, in 1911. He had four brothers, Robert, James, Walter and Frederick, and six sisters, Elizabeth, Rose, Laura, Nellie, Elsie and Ruby. Rose, Walter, Laura and Nellie all transferred to Heathcote School in Ash on 5 March 1917, and the family was then living in Balmoral Road.

Charles joined the 2nd New Army on 9 September 1914, as a driver in the Army Service Corps No T10502, giving his occupation as gardener. He was 5 feet 5¾ inches tall and weighed 114 lbs, and had a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and dark brown hair. He gave his age as 19 years 5 months, but he was actually two years younger than that.

He went to Boulogne in France with the BEF 12 October 1914 on the SS City of Benares, and was there for 3 years 146 days. In March 1917 he was in trouble for hesitating to obey an order, and for being absent from the stables 8pm until 3pm. He was given a compulsory transfer to the Cheshire Regiment 24 September 1917, and was given no 51432. In 1918 he was in trouble a number of times for overstaying his leave and forfeited pay. He was at home 7 March to 2 May suffering from trench fever, and stayed at home until 5 October when he went back to France.

On 23 October 1918 he suffered multiple gunshot wounds. A telegram was sent to his father saying he was dangerously ill in 14 General Hospital Rouen, France, but that permission to visit could not be granted. He died on 21 January 1919 in 2 General Hospital at Le Havre, and a copy of the telegram sent to his mother is preserved with his papers in The National Archives. His identity disc was sent back to his mother Emma, and she was also sent his memorial scroll and plaque, 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.