Frederick Gough (MP for Horsham) facts for kids
Colonel Charles Frederick Howard Gough (born September 16, 1901 – died September 19, 1977) was a brave British Army officer and a politician. He was also a company director. He served in the Territorial Army, which is a part-time reserve force for the British Army.
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Charles Gough first went to Cheam School. Then, he joined the Royal Naval College, Osborne to train as an officer for the Royal Navy. He did well there, even getting a special mention in 1915. After that, he went to the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth.
However, Charles Gough didn't really enjoy being in the Royal Navy. After serving for three years as a midshipman on ships like HMS Ramillies, he decided to leave the Navy.
Starting a Business Career
Charles Gough had thought about farming and breeding horses in India, where he was born. His father had been an officer in the Indian Army. But after two years, he came back to Britain. He joined a company that worked with insurance, connected to Lloyd's of London. He became a director for several companies later on.
World War II Heroics
In 1924, Gough joined the London Rifle Brigade, which was part of the Territorial Army. He served for five years. When the Second World War started, he rejoined the same regiment and served throughout the war.
Fighting in Finland and France
He even fought in the Winter War in Finland and was part of the Scots Guards 5th Battalion, where he learned to ski. When he returned, he was sent to France. He quickly became involved in the evacuation of Dunkirk, where many soldiers were rescued from the beaches. He managed to get back to Britain on June 1, 1940.
Becoming a Parachutist
After Dunkirk, Charles Gough trained to be a parachutist. He was the very first person to receive the Royal Aero Club Parachutist Certificate! He was then put in charge of the 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron. This squadron worked in North Africa and Italy in 1943. For his bravery during the landing at Taranto, he was awarded the Military Cross.
Battle of Arnhem and Escape
In September 1944, he fought in the famous Battle of Arnhem. He even took command of the forces at Arnhem Bridge for a short time after Lieutenant Colonel John Frost was injured. He was captured by the enemy when his force was surrounded. But he was very determined! He escaped in April 1945 and joined up with American soldiers in Bavaria, Germany.
After the War and Politics
After the war ended in 1945, Gough commanded the 11th Parachute Battalion in the Territorial Army for a couple of years. Then, he decided to get involved in politics. He joined the Conservative Party. He ran for election in Lewisham South in 1950 but didn't win that time. However, he became the President of the South Lewisham Conservative Association for the next twenty years.
Serving in Parliament
In the 1951 election, Charles Gough was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Horsham. As an MP, he was very loyal to the Conservative government. He especially stood up for the rights and interests of former servicemen. He was also the Chairman of the Royal Aero Club from 1958 to 1968. He praised the new town of Crawley as it was built in his area, calling it a success.
Gough announced he would retire from Parliament in March 1962. He left Parliament after the 1964 election. He continued to be involved in politics as the President of the Horsham Conservative Association until he passed away in 1977. He also had more time to write letters to various newspapers.
A Disagreement with Robert Maxwell
In November 1967, Charles Gough had a disagreement with Robert Maxwell, who was also an MP. This was about a letter Gough had written to the Illustrated London News newspaper. Gough later apologized for the letter, saying that it might have suggested something incorrect about Maxwell.
Later Years
In April 1974, Charles Gough reflected on past political decisions. He also lived to see the movie A Bridge Too Far, which was about the Battle of Arnhem. He felt the movie changed some historical facts to make it more exciting for a wide audience.
