Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Pearson Golding, a grocer, born 1856 in Tollesbury, Essex and baptised on the 16th February 1856 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Tollesbury (son pf Pearson Golding, 1814-1879 and Harriet Edgar, 1815-1878) and his wife Emily Golding (nee Solly, married on the 4th February 1882 in St. Paul’s Church, Deptford, Kent), born on the 2nd September 1858 in Tollesbury and baptised on the 6th September 1858 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Tollesbury (daughter of Richard Solly, 1822-1879 and Clara Deborah Hancorn, 1836-1903). Hugh was born in in the July quarter of 1887 in Atherstone, Warwickshire and baptised on the 2nd October 1887 in St. Mary’s Church, Atherstone, his siblings were, Constance, born on the 20th August 1882 in Brockley, Kent and Cecil Pearson, born on the 30th May 1884 in Welford, Northamptonshire and baptised on the 6th July 1884 in St. Mary’s Church, Welford, in April 1891 the family home was at 27, Melbourne Street, St. Saviour’s, Leicester.
In March 1901 Hugh was residing in the family home at 4, Ventnor Street, St. Stephen’s, Leicester, together with his father a provident supply company agent, his mother and siblings, Constance, a draper’s assistant, Cecil, a butcher and Ronald, born on the 24th November 1896 in Leicester and baptised on the 3rd January 1897 in St. Hilda’s Church, Leicester.
In April 1911 Hugh was absent from the family home at 4, Ventnor Street, Leicester, residing there was his father, a clothing club agent, his mother and brother Ronald, a shoe factors warehouseman, also residing with the family were two grandchildren, Lionel Paget Tomlinson, born on the 18th November 1903 in Kensington, London and baptised on the 18th July 1912 in the Church of St. Barnabas, Leicester and Neville Paget Tomlinson, born on the 22nd May 1905 in Leicester and baptised on the 18th July 1912 in the Church of St. Barnabas, Leicester.
Hugh enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 4th February 1915 in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia, being assigned to the 5th Reinforcements, 13th Battalion Australian Infantry, and was allotted the service number 2066. He gave his place of birth as Atherstone, Rutlandshire, England. His age as 27 years 6 months, his trade or calling as station hand and marital status as unmarried.
He gave his next of kin as his mother Mrs. Emily Golding. Father Pearson Golding, 4, Ventnor Street, Leicester, England.
His Description on Enlistment records: Age 27 years 6 months, height 5-feet 4½ inches, weight 132, chest measurement 32 - 34 inches, complexion fair, eyes brown, hair brown and Religious Denomination Presbyterian. Distinctive marks vaccinations.
He was considered fit for active service on the 1st February 1915 in Sydney.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Embarked. From Sydney per A55 Kyarra. 13/4/15.
Joined. 13th Bn. Australian Infantry. Gallipoli Peninsula. 13/7/15.
Transferred. Per Hospital Ship St. Georgian, septic hands, from Gallipoli Peninsula. 11/8/15
Transferred. Per Hospital Ship Aquatania to Mudros. 14/8/15
Embarked. For England per Hospital Ship Aquatania from Mudros. 14/8/15
Admitted. 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth. 23/8/15.
Discharged. From Hospital. 25/8/16.
Left. Monte Video Camp, Weymouth to rejoin the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Egypt. 22/2/16.
Rejoined. 13th Bn. Australian Infantry. Tel-el-Kebir. 9/3/16.
Proceeded. To join British Expeditionary Force from Alexandria. 1/6/16.
Disembarked. At Marseilles. 8/6/16.
Wounded in action. France. In the Field. 10/8/16.
Admitted. To Casualty Clearing Station, bullet wound chest. In the Field. 10/8/16
Admitted. To 1st Australian General Hospital, Rouen. 13/8/16.
Transferred. To 4th Australian Division Base Depot, Etaples. 26/8/16.
Rejoined. 13th Bn. Australian Infantry. Belgium. In the Field. 11/9/16.
Admitted. To 8th Australian Field Ambulance, sore feet. France. In the Field. 31/12/16
Admitted. To Hospital. France. 31/12/16.
Rejoined. 13th Bn. Australian Infantry, France. In the Field. 3/1/17.
Killed in action, France. In the Field. 11/4/17.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 11 Apr-17 – 4.45am. Attack on HINDENBURG LINE (See Appendix B.4-2)
11 Apr-17 – 4.45am. Attack on HINDENBURG LINE (See Appendix B.42)
Appendix No. “B” 42.
13th BATTALION A.I.F.
REPORT ON OPERATIONS NEAR BULLECOURT. 11th April, 1917.
Reference Maps, 57c N.W. and 51b S.W, 1/10,000.
[1] The Battalion was bivouacked at FAVREUIL and on the 8th April, the Commanding Officer made a personal reconnaissance of the ground with Battalion Staff and Company Commanders.
[2] There was a conference of Commanding Officer’s at Brigade Headquarters, NOREUIL at 10.30am on 9-4-17 and at 12 midnight on night of 10/11th April, 1917.
[3] On morning of 10th the Battalion was in readiness to attack but owing to tanks being late this attack was cancelled.
[4] No written Battalion orders were issued but the Commanding Officer had several conferences with Company Commanders and officers, and all understood their orders. These verbal orders were based on the 4th Australian Infantry Brigade Order No.76 of 10-4-17 issued at 6.00pm, and the continuation order of same date issued at 10.45pm.
[5] My plan was to have the Battalion entrenched in Railway Cutting from C.5.d.2.8 to C.6.c.1.4. At 4.45am the Battalion was to move out in Artillery formation and follow the 16th Battalion, and forming lines when the second objective was crossed, they were to push on in the following formation.
“A” “B”
“C”
“D”
And dig in as follows: -
“A” Company U.18.c.6.4 to U.24.b.0.6.
“B” Company U.24.b.0.6 to U.24.a.9.5.
“C” Company U.24.a.9.5 to U.24.c.6.8.
“D” Company U.24.c.6.6 to U.24.c.4.0.
Four platoons per Company, were to assist the tanks in mopping up REINCOURT.
If the 16th Battalion met with serious opposition in taking the HINDENBURG LINE, the 13th Battalion was to assist them, and then carry out their full orders as far as possible.
Four Vickers Guns of No.1 Section, 4th AUSTRALIAN MACHINE GUN COMPANY under Lieutenant VENESS were attached to the Battalion and were allotted one to each Company.
[6] At 3.35am the Battalion was in the Railway Cutting ready to move out, and I had a final conference with the officers.
[7] At 4.45am punctually “A” and “B” Companies moved out, followed later by “C” and “D” Companies at distances of 200 yards. As soon as they left the shelter of the cutting losses from shell fire commenced. When about 500 yards from the 1st objective the Battalion came under heavy Machine Gun fire, which became more intense at the first wire and officers and men fell fast. The 16th Battalion had then taken the 1st objective, but were seen to be in very great difficulties with the 2nd objective, the wire in front of which was uncut, and it was only too evident that the 16th Battalion had suffered enormous losses from Machine Gun fire in taking the 1st objective. The Tanks had then not reached the first trench; there was a Tank in the wire, and a German Machine Gun only 10 yards in front of it, firing heavily on our men. The gun was put out of action by our leading Company (“A”). The 13th Battalion pressed on and with the 16th, took the 2nd objective, mainly by bombing up the communication trenches and then bombing to the right and left. They soon established touch with the 14th Battalion on their left; and by bombing extended their right flank to U.30.b.0.6 and U.30.a.9.4.
The Machine Gun fire rendered visual signalling impossible and the open ground swept by Machine Gun fire was almost certain death to runners, so that no messages were coming in to Battalion Headquarters, but at 7.15am Captain MURRAY wrote an account of the situation, which I received at 9.00am and transmitted to Brigade Headquarters by runner.
About 7.20am a large amount of enemy movement was seen around REINCOURT. Captain MURRAY sent up S.O.S. flares for an Artillery barrage but none was forthcoming.
About 7.30am the Germans counter-attacked by bombing down a communication trench from REINCOURT. This was beaten off and a combined party of 13th and 16th bombers beat the enemy back this trench to within 100 yards of REINCOURT putting in a block. At the same time the enemy counter-attacked our right in the 2nd objective with bombs but were beaten back suffering heavy loss.
At 9.00am a Battalion of the enemy in close formation moving from QUEANT to the North of REINCOURT was dispersed by our Machine Gun fire, suffering heavy loss.
From then until 10.45am our men were re-organising and consolidating, during which time two small bombing attacks by the Germans on our left were beaten off. All the bombs were collected and dumps made near each bombing block.
Captain MURRAY went along the whole position and reports that the 4th Brigade held 900 yards of the HINDENBURG LINE. He commenced the organisation of the whole Brigade position.
At 10.45am heavy bomb attacks by the Germans were started from the right and left of both objectives, also down the communication trench from REINCOURT and a communication trench running North and South on the West of REINCOURT, six attacks in all.
These attacks were very severe and our bombs were quickly exhausted, and our men pressed back to the centre of our position from all sides. The Germans had Machine Guns trained on the parapet which frustrated every endeavour on the part of our men to go along the top and attack the bombers with the bayonet.
Attempts to call up an Artillery barrage by power buzzer and S.O.S. flares failed, the buzzer being jammed by the Germans and the flares apparently not being observed.
Except where parties were cut off the men tried to get back over the open under fearful Machine Gun and rifle fire; the losses being very heavy.
Shortly after noon the position was entirely evacuated.
[8] At nightfall, the remnants of the Battalion, under cover of the outposts of the 52nd Battalion, withdrew to FORUIL and thence to FAVREUIL.
[9] The failure of the Tanks was the primary cause of our failure to carry out our original plan. They were knocked out by an anti-tank gun situated on the West side of REINCOURT, at a range of about 600 yards. The gun was right in the open shooting over open sights. No Tank reached the second objective, and only one (perhaps two) crossed the first objective. Our men put the anti-tank gun out of action with Machine Gun fire from the second objective, but by this time it was too late to save the Tanks. The fact that our Artillery were slow in putting a barrage on REINCOURT resulted in the bombing attacks being pressed with great vigour; also the gap between the 4th and 12th Brigades gave the Germans a great advantage. We did not have enough hand grenades or rifle grenades, but the role allotted to the 13th Battalion was an above-ground one, hence we took more small arms ammunition and fewer bombs. Ground flares were lit at 8.00am. I cannot understand why the ROYAL FLYING CORPS thought we were in REINCOURT.
[10] Our losses as follows: -
Killed. Officers 6. Other Ranks 19. Total 25.
Wounded. Officers 6. Other Ranks 112. Total 118.
Missing. Officers 9. Other Ranks 358. Total 367.
Totals Officers 21. Other Ranks 489.
Lieutenant Colonel.
Commanding Officer 13th Battalion A.I.F.
On Friday May 4th, 1917, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 4, under the heading. – BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. – DEATHS. – GOLDING. – Pte. Hugh, A.I.E.F., killed in action in France, April 11th, 1917, second son of Pearson and Emily Golding, 4, Ventnor-street, Leicester.
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