Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR

Dear Mr Murray,

I am the grandaughter of Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR who died in 1945.

Many years ago my father tried to find out information, but while he was alive it was all still confidential. So there is very little we know.

I do have a letter written and signed by Major General Robert Laycock,

Stating ? he carried out more landings on enemy coast than any other officer of any Service ? also various commando raids and distinguished himself on many occasions. and that he was a great friend of mine.

Signed by Major General Sir Robert Edward Laycock KCMG, CB, DSO, KStJ Combined Operations Headquarters.

I also have a letter

24th October 1944

Authority to carry by air to Italy top secret papers

Signed by Major General Sir Robert Edward Laycock KCMG, CB, DSO, KStJ Combined Operations Headquarters.

I have various badges, one is V Force no 5, RN COMMANDO emblem, and a cap badge which I just cannot trace at-all. It is a blue flag with gold edging, a round circle which has a white background and what appears to be a red dagger with a snake twirled up it, plus what looks like some letters at the bottom.

I know he was involved with COPPS and during the war he was sent down to live on Hayling Island (where our family still lives). A map given to Lord Mountbatten on a visit here during the war, details where my grandfather lived.

I know he was the Senior Landing Officer for Dieppe (Blue beach).

Please can you assist me by informing me of any information you may have and/or point me in the right direction.

I am still trying to find anything that would be of use, I don't even know his i.d. number.

In the very near future there is a memorial going to be erected on Hayling Island Seafront for COPPS and it would be great if we could get some relevant information together before then.

I also have many interesting files which were Grandpa's such as original drawings of the Dorie boats (with hand scetches in pensil and ink drawings) should you wish to see them.

I thank you very much for your time in reading this and hope that you will be able to help even if it is in some small way.

Jill Goulding, www.copsewoodhouse.co.uk

Thank you Geoff,

I have since received his naval records, which have been very helpful in piecing information together.

This confirms that amongst active duty during the whole of the war period he was also

HMS LYNX Special Service - Commencment of war to May 1941. - Serivce history written by Captain Slocum.

The Chief Training Officer at HMS NORTHNEY from October 1940 to September 1943. Serivce history written by Captain Chambers, Cdr. Creighton, Captain Scott and Vice Admiral Mountbatten.

At HMS RODENT 2nd in Command S.B.U. and Training Officer from September 1943 to February 1944. Service history written by Captain Chambers and R/A Buckley.

H.Q. Commando Group Naval Liaison Officer from January 1944. Service history written by Major Sturges.

HMS LUCIFER Coastal Convoys from April 1945

Also HMS PRESIDENT from September 1943 onwards as Commander

Once again, thank you

Kind regards, Jill

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 21/07/2011 00:57:14

There's a tantalising glimpse about Special Boat Unit (SBU) in the online records at Kew: http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=DEFE_2/970

It seems that they at least in part oversaw the operations of the Small Operations Group (SOG) that was based at Hammenheil Camp in Sri Lanka (SEAC = South East Asia Command). The COPP teams that operated in SEAC were part of SOG.

His time at HMS Northney would also have tied in with COPP, although maybe not directly. Northney was used for landing craft training, and part of COPP's role was to help guide in the landing craft on the day of an invasion. Having spoken with a landing craft veteran who lives on Hayling Island, although they were separate units and didn't operate together, they were aware of each other's existence, and at a more senior level maybe there were some links between the units.

Edit to clarify: There were actually multiple Northney camps on Hayling Island, and COPP came under Northney III, although that was more for administrative purposes than in terms of location. I'm sure his role at Northney (for all four camps?) would have brought him into direct contact with COPP and assisted them with their training.

This message was edited 13 times. Last update was at 21/06/2011 16:09:49

Just for the information of others (I believe the family will already have these) here are a few links relating to Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR:

London Gazettes entry for the award of his DSO:

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34991/supplements/6550/page.pdf

For outstanding fearlessness and resource on special service:

To be a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order:

Probationary Temporary Lieutenant (now Temporary Acting Lieutenant Commander) Harold Wilkinson Goulding, R.N.R.

The CWGC entry shows the surname without a 'G' at the end :

http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=2836156

In Memory of Commander HAROLD WILKINSON GOULDIN D S O
H.M.S. Cochrane II, Royal Naval Reserve
who died age 41 on 04 August 1945
Son of Harold and Alice Goulding, of West Hartlepool; husband of Edna Victoria Goulding, of West Hartlepool.
Remembered with honour at HARTLEPOOL (STRANTON) CEMETERY

HMS Cochrane 11 was on May Island, close to where I live in Fife:

http://indicatorloops.com/mayisland.htm

There is an entry about him on this site including the letter from Laycock mentioned above :

http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RNR_officersG.html

Finally I have seen a reference that he was in the SSRF at some stage. Our album on the SSRF has some useful information about them and their activities:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/SSRF/

I am pleased to say that Jill has identified her grandfather in several of the SSRF photos which I have updated . Here is a link to one of them:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/SSRF/Further+training+with+Grapnells+_amp_+Dory.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

She has also sent me some pictures and information which will be placed in the SSRF album in due course.

In the meantime here is a picture of Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR with his son outside Buckingham Palace courtesy of Jill Goulding

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 02/07/2011 13:31:21

A similar photo is included in an edition of Life magazine that's online:

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_0kEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38&lpg=PA38&dq=HW+Goulding&source=bl&ots=nZP-LvnX0k&sig=WkdIMrJm54L3WAUGHrjiybimRVE&hl=en&ei=_BcBTrjYIYPQhAeX1rWMDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=
3&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=HW%20Goulding&f=false

Jill has sent me this photo of one of the insignia that she has found that belonged to her Grandfather. Anyone any ideas about it?

Pete R

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 02/07/2011 13:27:09

I have just received notification from the CWGC that they have amended the error on their database regarding the spelling of his surname as mentioned above. It is now spelt correctly:

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2836156

This message was edited 6 times. Last update was at 07/07/2011 17:56:09

I have received an email from a member of the British and Commonwealth Badge Forum who has provided information about the badge posted above. This is in response to a message posted on their site by one of our members.

Quote from Flight , July 21, 1921 page 496:

The Instone Air Line are progressing steadily in the direction of regular shipping ideals. They have now supplied their personnel with gold-wire badges of the Instone House Flag, flanked with laurel leaves and surmounted with a goldwire " Vimy." This is, it is rumoured, the first step towards equipping their staff with uniforms. They are, apparently, breaking them into the idea gently.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Instone

The initials are: S. I. & Co ( Samuel Instone and Company )

The houseflag badges have been used by the Instone shipping company as well.

I have passed on our thanks to the provider of this information who wishes to remain anonymous

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 09/07/2011 13:37:33

Whilst updating another forum message, I posted some links to the London Gazettes entry on the Dieppe Raid. Interestingly enough Lieutenant Commander Harold Wilkinson-Goulding DSO RNVR is mentioned in that Gazettes entry. One reference being on this page :

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/38045/supplements/3826/page.pdf

For the full list of pages please go to the forum message I mentioned:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/2926.page

It is very evident the more I find out about Lieut. Commander Goulding just how important he was to the role of Combined Operations. He appears to have been pivotal in the training of Commandos and others involved in the early raids, and now we know what he looks like thanks to his Granddaughter Jill, he has been identified in several of our photos of specific units like the SRRF, SBS and others.

2SBS

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/2+sbs+hillhead+1943.jpg.html

SSRF

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/SSRF/Further+training+with+Grapnells+_amp_+Dory.jpg.html

I know Jill has more information and has had some difficulty in logging into the forum. I hope that can be resolved soon so we can find out more about her grandfather.

I have now created a personal album for Commander Goulding DSO RNR and included it within our Commando Training gallery. It can be viewed here. My thanks to Jill for providing the documents and photos:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/goulding/

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 18/08/2011 12:57:06

I have now updated the above album for Cmdr. Goulding DSO RNR. One of the additional items is this newspaper cutting titled "Look out German sentry". Particular attention is drawn to the last section describing Harold Goulding.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/goulding/Look+out+German+sentry.jpg.html

With the help of James Dorrian, Jill Goulding has now found documents in the National Archives which show that her Grandfather, Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR, in March 1944 was Officer Commanding, Special Boat Unit Headquarters, SS Group, Home Forces.

I am very pleased that this Officer is now getting the recognition that he duly deserves. No doubt just one of many unsung heroes:

For more about him and these latest documents follow this link:

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/Commando+Training/goulding/