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21 Aug 2015 Commemorating WWII SBU commando C.O. Harold Goulding DSO, Hayling Island

1,098 views · Published 10 July 2015 · 7:48 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: Public Enquiry · 2015 · News & Politics

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Commander Harold W Goulding DSO - The Blue Plaque unveiling and celebration event.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1592333907683398/

Public · Hosted by Laurence De Mello and Jill Gadd
http://www.hayling.co.uk/news/show_item.php?i=2027

21 August
The Langstone Hotel
Northney Road, Hayling Island, PO11 0NQ Portsmouth
 
Created for Commander Harold Goulding DSO
Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding D.S.O. R.N.R.

CHURCHILL’S SECRET BOAT COMMANDER

On the 21st August 2015 a small flotilla of canoes, 
Cockles Mk2, Mk7, Mk8 and an Mk9, Representing Harold’s role as Commander of Special Boat Unit,
will Launch from Hayling Island Sailing club and travel up to the Langstone Hotel to deliver a Blue Plaque for Moss Rose Cottage his former residence. They will be accompanied by ML1387 Medusa (motor Launch) representing Harold’s role as Commodore of Coastal Forces and a flypast by a Spitfire representing his role as Pre-Planning Officer and Commanding Officer of D-Day.

The stone for The Langstone Hotel plaque has been kindly donated by C.F. Piper and Son, Trenwith, Cornwall.

There will be two British Blue Plaques sited on Hayling Island, commemorating the work that Commander Harold Wilkinson Goulding D.S.O. R.N.R. and his units carried out during WW2.
One plaque will be placed on the foreshore at The Langstone Hotel, who will be generously sponsoring the Celebration Day and the other will be placed on the house Harold lived in during WW2, Moss Rose Cottage, St. Peter’s Road, Northney, Hayling Island, Hampshire.

These plaques will have a tag attached which visitors may scan with their mobile phones to read more about Harold and download supporting pictures.
The brief history that follows gives a glimpse into the many roles and commissions that Harold held at the same time, as evidenced by the dates below. Harold’s secret roles within WW2 were not known even to the men within his units. The effect of a ‘D’ notice prevented anything being printed about him from 1943, keeping his work secret until just recently. His exciting story can now be told.

WW2 Special Service Executive for the Admiralty, May 1940 – July 1945
Working for the Special Operations Executive & Secret Intelligence Service.
Ferrying Agents & V.I.P.s to/from occupied territory. Awarded the DSO.
DIEPPE Flotilla Officer BLUE BEACH M.I.D.
(Mention in despatches)
C.O. & Training Officer HMS NORTHNEY 
October 1940 – September 1943

Commander Special Boat Unit 
September 1943 – August 1945
The SBU was set up to command all Special Service troops and to control, train and deploy. 
Harold was recommended for this position by 
Lord Louis Mountbatten.
Units include;
30 COMMANDO - C.O.P.P. - R.M.B.P.D.
R.N.C.P. - S.B.S. - S.R.U. - SONIC WARFARE

Some of the men that worked within these units;
Blondie Hasler (portrayed in the film ‘Cockleshell Heroes’)
Ian Fleming (author of James Bond)
Douglas Fairbanks Jnr (Hollywood actor)
John Ainsworth-Davis aka Christopher Creighton (author of OpJB –Operation James Bond)

Commander and prior Planning Officer for D-DAY
Commodore Coastal Forces 01/1944 – 08/1945

Harold joined the Merchant Navy at the age of 15.
At just 25 years of age he gained his Captain’s Certificate and qualified as a Trinity House Pilot, mastering ships all around the world. In May 1940 he was approached and offered a commission with the Admiralty and was immediately assigned to the Special Operations Executive and S.I.S. (M.I.6). As an Executive he was ferrying the first Agents and V.I.P.s to and from occupied territories, by means of fast boat, on most occasions personally taking them ashore by skiff. Many times he came under fire, once by our own Portsmouth Harbour defence!!
Between June and October 1940 he carried out more than 40 successful missions and was awarded the D.S.O. for this work in March 1941. 
Harold was on the first Commando Combined Operations Raid ‘Operation COLLAR’ on 23rd June 1940. Throughout the war he was always used when it was “a matter of operational urgency”.
It is documented that he “carried out more landings on enemy occupied coast, than any other Officer of any Service”. 

During WW2 Harold lived at Moss Rose, Northney. There were 4 depots for HMS NORTHNEY.
HMS NORTHNEY I at Warners Northney Holiday Camp.
HMS NORTHNEY II at Warners Southleigh Holiday Camp, HMS NORTHNEY III at Warners Coronation Holiday Camp.
Sunshine Holiday Camp which started as a Royal Marine base, later became HMS NORTHNEY IV.
HMS NORTHNEY DOCKYARD at Mill Rythe Lane.
The Maypole pub, on Havant Road, is where the Officers met for a drink and answered their phone as
HMS NORTHNEY V.

Harold died in Scotland 4th August 1945. He was 41

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