GOOCH, Noel Frank


No.10463, Sergeant, Noel Frank GOOCH
Aged 29


"X" Coy., 1st Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers
formerly 6067 Lancers of the Line
Killed in Action Friday, 22nd March 1918


Noel Frank Gooch was born in Bury St Edmunds on 1st April 1889 [Bury St.Edmunds Q2-1889 4a:734], baptised in St Mary's, Bury St.Edmunds on 28th April 1889, son of Thomas and Eliza GOOCH (née WALLIS).


1891 census...Aged 2, he was at New Barracks, Bury St Edmunds with his father Corporal, Thomas GOOCH [27] Suffolk Regiment born Bury St.Edmunds; his mother Eliza [30] born Fornham All Saints; brothers Cecil Thomas [8], Dennis George [7] and Nathan William [4]; sister Dorothy Violet [3 months]. All the children were born in Bury St Edmunds.

1901 census...Noel has not been found in this census but at Cronte Lane, Guernsey, Channel Islands were his parents (father a soldier); sisters Dorothy Violet [10] and Phyllis Ida [4]; brothers Arthur Charlie [7], Frederick Cyril [5] and Edward John [2]. All recorded as born in England

He was admitted to St James National School at Bury St Edmunds on 27th October 1902, leaving 20th November 1908. He was living at The Barracks in 1902.

1911 census...Aged 22, single, a barman, he was at the Anchor Inn, Bishops Stortford. His parents were at The Green Man, Cowlinge where his father was inn keeper. Also there were his sister Dorothy (Mrs Beris) and her son Charles [9 months]; also his brothers Frederick [15] born Warley and Edward [12] born Bury St Edmunds and sister Phyllis [4] born Aldershot.

Kelly's Directory for 1912, 1914 and 1917 have his father as inn keeper at the Red Lion, Sturmer.

The pension card has his mother at 34 West Road, Bury St.Edmunds.


Noel enlisted in Colchester, when resident in Sturmer.
The Kaiserschlacht, the German Spring Offensive opened on the 21st March and everywhere the British were falling back in the face of overwhelming opposition. Ground that had taken years to win was being given up in hours. When the German attack began the 1st Munsters were in action near St Quentin. The 16th (Irish) Division and the 36th (Ulster) Divisions were to suffer almost 7,000 casualties each and virtually became ineffective as fighting units.This was amongst the highest divisional losses at he time in the BEF, despite some anti-Irish comments to the contrary.

The battalion had 37 killed on the 22nd March 1918



photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Noel Gooch is buried in Villers-Faucon, Ste Emilie Valley Cemetery, grave 1:A:12

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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