John Mills GOULD

16 April 1915

GOULD – April 9th. Private James [sic] M. Gould of Thoralby, Aysgarth, of the N.E.R. 17th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, aged 26 years.

16 April 1915

AYSGARTH – TOLL OF THE WAR: Soldier’s Impressive Funeral

The funeral took place at Aysgarth, on Tuesday with military honours, of Pte. James Milnes [sic] Gould, of the N.E.R. 17th Batt. Northumberland Fusiliers. The deceased, who was age 26 years, entered the service of the N.E.R. Company’s stationmaster’s office, at Thirsk at the age of 15. There he was transferred to Ferrybridge Station, and enlisted in the railway company’s battalion on January 5th of this year. About a week ago he contracted pleurisy, and death took place on Friday last. Private Gould was a great favourite with his comrades, and his death caused much regret in the camp at Hull, where he was in training. His parents resided at Thoralby, and the body was conveyed to Aysgarth on Monday and laid overnight in the parish church of Aysgarth. A firing party from E Company of the 17th Battalion left Hull on Tuesday morning under the command of Lieut. Plumtre, and arrived at Aysgarth for the funeral. The service, which was choral, was conducted by Rev. E. H. Wyley, the vicar at the Parish Church, at which there was a large congregation. The hymns were ‘On the resurrection morning’ and ‘Onward, Christian Soldiers.’ As the body was borne from the church the organist played the “ Dead March.” The coffin was covered with the Union Jack, upon which was laid the regimental cap and accoutrements of the deceased.

At the graveside the firing party fired three volleys, and the bugles sounded the Last Post. The hymn,
My God, my Father, while I stray was sung at the graveside. The bearers, old school mates of deceased, were W. J. Lawson, G. Willis, F. Webster, J. J. Scott, J. Lambert, J. R. Sayer, T. Crates and M. Webster. The chief mourners were Mr. and Mrs. Gould, parents, Mr. Bert Gould, brother, Mrs. J. W. Cornforth, sister, Miss Gould, aunt, Miss Jaques, the Woodlands, Harrogate, cousin, Mrs. Beck Carthorpe, Miss Simpson, East Wilton, Mrs. Cundill, Crossgates, Mr. J. W. Wilkinson, Miss Olive Smith of Ferrybridge, Mr. F. Dawson, representing Ferrybridge Station Staff, Miss Cornforth, Coxwold, Mrs. Will. Cornforth, Stockton, Mr. and Mrs. Close, Bishopdale, Miss Walker, Thoralby, Mr. F. S. Graham, Aysgarth, Mr. T. Sayer, Thoralby; and Mr. Gibson, stationmaster, Thirsk, under whom deceased had worked for six years.

The coffin was covered with the Union Jack, and bore magnificent floral tributes sent by the following:–

“In loving memory, from Father, Mother, Bert, and auntie”; “With love and deepest sympathy from Jack, May, Jackie and Betty”; “With love and deepest sympathy from all at Woodlands, Harrogate”, “In loving memory from Dick and Edith”; “a token of respect and deepest sympathy from his comrades in E Company, 17th Batt. N.E.R., Northumberland Fusiliers”, “In loving memory of dear Jack from Olive”; “A last token of love from Cousin Andrew and Jessie”; “With deepest sympathy from the officers. N.C.O., and men of E Co., 17th N.E.R.”; “With deepest sympathy from his Commanding Officer, Major A. H. B. Wright, 17th Northumberland Fusiliers, N.E.R. Pipers”; “With love and deepest sympathy from Mrs. Fountain and Sis”; “In loving sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson, Ferrybridge”; “From Sid, Willie, Arthur and Willie in fond remembrance”; “In loving memory from Elsie, Hannah, Joyce, Charles and Phil”, “In loving remembrance from his friends at Ferrybridge”; “ Jack, from a sorrowing friend”; “In loving memory of dear Jack from Joyce”; “With deepest sympathy from stationmaster and clerical staff at Ferrybridge”; “With deepest sympathy from his old friends at Crossgates”; “ In loving memory and deepest sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Monkhouse and family, Harrogate”; “ With deepest sympathy from a dear old friend, Stanley”; “ With deepest sympathy in the loss of our dear old friend Jack, from Dorothy Ford”; “With love and deepest sympathy from Edith Fearnley”; “With deepest sympathy from G. W. Bradley, Leeds”; “With deepest sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Lawson and family”; “Deepest sympathy from R. T. Webster, Thoralby”.

Mr. and Mrs. Gould have received messages of sympathy and condolence from a large number of friends, and amongst them have received from the officers and men of the 17th Northumberland Fusiliers, N.E.R. Battalion, testimonies to the loveable disposition and manly character of their son, who had been recommended for and was about to receive promotion. He was held in the very highest esteem and affection by all who knew him, and his death will be most sincerely mourned by countless friends. The greatest sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. Gould and family in their sad bereavement.