Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding DSO RNR
Harold Wilkinson Goulding not only trained Commandos and others from Combined Operations in Landing Craft, navigational, and seamanship skills, but also took part himself in many of the raids. He is photographed in several pictures in our galleries including those of the SSRF and 2SBS. The quotes from his Service Record below, combined with the documents provided to him and shown in this album, reflect just how important his role was within Combined Operations. Particular note should be made of the content of the letter dated 1946 from Chief of Combined Operations, Major General Robert Laycock DSO to the family.
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
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Date: 11/07/2011
Size: 13 items
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