838615 L/Cpl. James Alexander Gould was born to Irish immigrants, in Euphrasia Township, Grey County, Ontario, on December 23rd, 1881. The sixth of seven children born to James and Mary Gould, James Jr. was also the couple's second son. As was the tradition in those days the farm was the eldest son's inheritance. Knowing this James struck out on his own and was working as a carpenter in the nearby town of Markdale when hostilities broke out.
James attested to the 147th (Grey) Battalion on January 17th, 1916 and would have been billeted in Markdale over the winter. The unit centralized in Owen Sound in May just prior to their departure for Camp Niagara later that month. As the conditions in the Camp were wanting the unit moved to the new training facility of Camp Borden in late June. In September the unit received their orders to proceed overseas, but due to an outbreak of diphtheria they were detained in Amherst, Nova Scotia, for over a month. The unit finally sailed for Great Britain, on November 14th 1916.
On January 1st, 1917, the 147th Battalion ceased to exist when it became the nucleus for the 8th Reserve Battalion, whose task it was to supply reinforcements to the 58th Battalion and the 4th C.M.R. James was taken on strength of the 4th C.M.R. on June 17th, 1917. Like so many reinforcements James was sent to the 3rd Entrenchment Battalion to work on defensive positions prior to fully joining the unit.
James survived Passchendaele and served with the unit during the great German spring offensive. Taking part in the Battle of Amiens, James was promoted to Lance Corporal and granted 14 days leave shortly thereafter. Rejoining the unit he was sent away on course to attend the Canadian Corps Gas School. Once again rejoining the unit James took part in the Pursuit to Mons.
838615 Lance Corporal James Alexander Gould was struck off strength of the C.E.F. on March 19th, 1919. Returning to Grey County, James would latterly pass away at eighty-four years of age on February 26th, 1966. He lies at rest in the Meaford, Lakeview Cemetery's Veterans plot.
Credit and many thanks go George Auer for the above biography.