Major Edward S. Gooch, The Berkshire Yeomanry.
Died of wounds received when leading his regiment in its charge on Hill 70, known as Scimitar Hill, at Gallipoli at Hill 70, 1915.
Major Gooch was in command of the regiment, and was the first man in the trenches, where he was severely wounded.
He was the son of the late J. V. Gooch and Mrs. Gooch of Cooper’s Hill, Bracknell, and was born in 1879. He was at Eagle House from 1888 to 1892, when he went on to Winchester. He entered the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers, but shortly changed to the 7th Hussars.
After serving through the South African War, in which he was awarded the Queen’s Medal, he resigned, but soon joined the Berkshire Yeomanry, and was their Major and Commanding Officer when they were sent to the Dardanelles.
The Berkshires were the leading regiment of the brigade and Major (Acting Lieutenant-Colonel) Gooch was the first in the trenches when he received a bullet wound to the head, during a charge in which he showed great bravery.
He was brought home to England on a hospital ship, but died in Lady Ridley’s Hospital, London, on 21st September 1915. His funeral took place with full military honours at St Andrew’s Episcopalian Church in Fort William. “Major Gooch led us just as if on parade – words cannot express the value of his great work on that day” is the opinion of those who fought beside him.
He was mentioned in Despatches.
In 1903 Major Gooch married Miss Eva Conway Everard-Jones and left one daughter.
Major Edward S. Gooch, (1879- 1915) The Berkshire Yeomanry