Naval commander remembered on Hayling with canoe flotilla and fly-past

A flotilla of cocklel canoes has arrived in Langstone to honour the memory of a naval commander whose pivotal role in the Second World War was kept secret for decades.

The canoes, including an Mk2, Mk7, Mk8 and Mk9,and led by ML1387 Medusa, are about to hand over a blue plaque which will be placed on the former home of Commander Harold Goulding.

Cmdr Goulding was in charge of the Special Boat Unit during D-Day, based on Hayling.

The event today, which will include a Spitfire fly-past, has been organised by his granddaughter Jill Goulding who knew little about her grandfather until 2010 other than he had been awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

In 2010, she found a stash of more than 500 documents marked Top Secret and Most Secret in her mother’s attic.

They revealed he had carried out more landings on enemy-occupied coast than any other officer of any service.

The blue plaque will be given to the owner of Moss Rose, in St Peter’s Road, Hayling.

Picture: Commander Goulding at the bow of a Mark 8 Cockle. Reproduced by permission QuentIn Rees.