Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War Zeebrugge raid D.S.M. group of four awarded to Leading Deck Hand W. S. J. Golding, Royal Naval Reserve, who was decorated for his gallant deeds in Motor Launch 258

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (SD. 4488 W. S. J. Golding, Dk. Hd., R.N.R., M.L. 258, Zeebrugge-Ostend 22-3 Ap. 1918); British War Medal 1914-20 (4488 S.D. W. S. J. Golding, L.D.H., R.N.R.); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (William S. J. Golding); Victory Medal 1914-19 (4488 S.D. W. S. J. Golding, L.D.H., R.N.R.), very fine and better (4)
£1600-1800

D.S.M. London Gazette 23 July 1918:

‘For services during the operations against Zeebrugge and Ostend on the night of 22-23 April 1918.’

William Stanley John Golding was born at East Ham, Essex in April 1895, and joined the Royal Naval Reserve as a Deck Hand in March 1916. Subsequently joining M.L. 258 under Lieutenant Alex Dixon, R.N.V.R., he was present at the famous Zeebrugge raid on the night of 22-23 April 1918, when his M.L. formed part of a smoke screen section under Lieutenant-Commander Arthur Watts in M.L. 239. The latter, ‘who led his unit with skill and judgement in a very exposed position’, was awarded the D.S.O., and Dixon was mentioned in despatches, as were two other skippers in Watts’ unit, one of them being Lieutenant Geoffrey Drummond in M.L. 254, shortly to win the V.C. for his part in the second raid on Ostend on 9-10 May 1918.

Demobilised in May 1919, Golding later became a member of the Zeebrugge Association, by which time he was residing at Southend-on-Sea; sold with copied service record.