https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/
He was the Senior Landing Officer for Blue Beach during the raid on Dieppe and this is referred to in a report on the raid in the Supplement to the London Gazette dated 14 August, 1947

Documents from the National Archives shown below identify that he was Commander, Special Boat Unit Headquarters, SS Group, Home Forces in 1944.

Captain Chambers wrote when recommending him for promotion " An outstanding officer. A great leader. A good organiser. Handles men well. His great knowledge of every part of the French coast has been used to great advantage in Night raiding by Landing Craft. In a great many raids he has personally led in the craft. This officer is very strongly recommended in all ways as being fitted for higher rank. Very loyal keen and hardworking. Has an exceptional energy."

Mountbatten personally endorsed this by adding " I fully concur. This officer is outstanding and fully worth immediate promotion."

Captain Slocum wrote " Under a somewhat lugubrious exterior and a retiring manner, this officer possesses loyalty, steadfastness of purpose, devotion to duty, zeal and energy of a high order. He is a first class seaman and navigator, and an exceptionally able pilot in Channel Ports and waters. In operations in small craft against enemy occupied coasts, he has entered into dangerous situations of unknown quantity, with fearlessness and courage, and has shown great coolness and presence of mind under enemy fire, for which he has been awarded the DSO. Possessed of more than usual powers of endurance"

In the book Secret Flotillas – Brooks Richards, the author quotes "The only common factor in these operations was the provision by Slocum of a specialist navigating and conducting officer in each case Lt. H.W. Goulding DSO, RNR. who knew the channel coast intimately and Lt. Cdr J.W.F. Milner Gibson DSC RNR. Between them carried the responsibility for navigating and conducting clandestine cross-Channel operations by high speed craft for S.I.S. S.O.E. and the Commandos until September 1941."

In Memory of Commander HAROLD WILKINSON GOULDING DSO
H.M.S. Cochrane II, Royal Naval Reserve
who died age 41 on 04 August 1945
Remembered with honour HARTLEPOOL (STRANTON) CEMETERY

Photos and information courtesy of his granddaughter Jill]]> en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.8 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:26:54 +0100 120 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/19028-14/goulding.jpg https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/ https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/HWG+SBU+OC+Letter.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/HWG+SBU+OC+Letter.jpg.html
From the National Archives - identifying Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR as being Commander Special Boat Unit Headquarters. Photo courtesy of his granddaughter Jill Goulding. Posted by Pete R.
In album Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:13 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/HWG+SBU+OC.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/HWG+SBU+OC.jpg.html
Document found in the National Archives identifying Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR as Commanding Officer Special Boat Unit HQ. Photo courtesy of his granddaughter Jill Goulding. Posted by Pete R.
In album Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:13 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Laycock+letter+re+Goulding+DSO.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Laycock+letter+re+Goulding+DSO.jpg.html
Letter (and testimonial) dated 1946 from Major General Robert Laycock DSO to the family of Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR. Photo courtesy of his granddaughter Jill Goulding. Posted by Pete R.
In album Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:28:01 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Look+out+German+sentry.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Look+out+German+sentry.jpg.html
About the Landing Craft Training under Cmdr. Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR. Courtesy of Jill Goulding, his granddaughter. Posted by Pete R.
In album Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:27:58 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Grandpa+hand+written+by+Laycock.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Grandpa+hand+written+by+Laycock.jpg.html
Photo courtesy of Cmdr. Goulding's granddaughter Jill who adds this transcript and comment :
" Goulding. Mne. Clifford will report at the front entrance at 0545hrs to accompany you. He has no orders other than to carry rifle and amo. He lives in Hut no 2 and the duty orderly will give him any further orders you wish tonight."


(Signed on an old envelope that Grandpa must have had with him, which makes me think they must have been together when this was written. This was written after 15th March 1944. )

Posted by Pete R.
In album Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:27:58 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Service+Documents.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Service+Documents.jpg.html
The first is whilst he was Chief Training Officer (CO) at HMS Northney.
The second is whilst he was Commodore of Coastal Convoys.

Photo courtesy of his granddaughter Jill Goulding. Posted by Pete R.
In album Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:27:58 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Promotion+and+DSO.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Promotion+and+DSO.jpg.html
2 newspaper reports about the award of his DSO and his promotion. Courtesy of his granddaughter Jill. Posted by Pete R.
In album Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:27:58 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Britains+Landing+Craft+Crew.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Britains+Landing+Craft+Crew.jpg.html
Courtesy of Jill Goulding. Posted by Pete R.
In album Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:48:28 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Grandpa+Air+travel+to+Italy.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Grandpa+Air+travel+to+Italy.jpg.html
Priority Pass for Cmdr. Harold Goulding DSO RNR signed by Laycock, Chief of Combined Operations. Courtesy of Jill Goulding Posted by Pete R.
In album Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:27:58 +0100 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Grandpa+Travel+pass.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/sbs/goulding/Grandpa+Travel+pass.jpg.html
Courtesy of Jill Goulding. Posted by Pete R.
In album Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:54:49 +0100