Description
British Empire Medal, GVI, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, 1st Army Clasp, Italy Star, 1939-45 War Medal, Defence Medal, Sergeant Gerald Spencer Goldby, 276th Company Royal Army Service Corps. Awarded the BEM in 1944 for service throughout North Africa and Italy.
Awarded with the following recommendation.
“Sjt Goldby has served in 276th Company RASC (Corps Transport) from the commencement of operations in North Africa and throughout the Italian Campaign.
He has consistently displayed drive and initiative and ready acceptant of any responsibility however far beyond his rank.
While this company has been taxed to the utmost during present operations, particularly under adverse road conditions that have involved exceptionally long and arduous periods of duty in weather of unmitigated severity, Sjt Goldby’s outstanding qualities of leadership, his determination and unshaken confidence in times of stress, and his cheerfulness and steady bearing at all times, have set a very fine example of untiring devotion to duty that has been a special inspiration to all the ranks.”
Gerald Spencer Goldby, served during World War 2 as a War Substantive Sergeant with service number T/163794.
British Empire Medal, officially engraved: “T/163794 Sgt. Gerald S. Goldby, R.A.S.C.”
In the original wartime card box of issue.
With original documents: The BEM packet of issue sent to his home from the Central Chancery in London, with the original Buckingham Palace award slip from King George VI, as medal posted instead of handed to him.
And the WW2 Medal award slip, marked “5-1” for the 5 Medals and 1 Clasp in his medal group.
During World War 2, his unit, the 276th Company
Mr Gerald Spencer Goldby, was born in Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire, the hometown of William Shakespeare on 24th February 1912.
He married there in Stratford on Avon during 1934 to Enid Ruth Hathaway.
Near the outbreak of WW2, the 1939 Census records him as living with his stepmother Ruth Hathaway and his Wife in Redditch, Worcestershire.
At the time he was working as a Fibrous Plasterer.
A funny coincidence that William Shakespeare’s Wife was named Anne Hathaway, who like his wife was also born in Stratford upon Avon.
His marriage, recalled in the Stratford upon Avon Herald, 9th February 1934:
“DISTRICT NEWS, ALDERMINSTER
Wedding – A wedding took place at the Parish Church on Wednesday, when the contracting parties were Mr G.S. Goldby, son of Mr and Mrs J.H. Goldby, of Garden Cottage, Shottery Road, Stratford on Avon and Miss Enid Ruth Hathaway, daughter of Mr and Mrs A.J. Hathaway, of Broomfield.
….Description of the bride and flowers follows…
The honeymoon is being spent at Nottingham, the bride’s travelling dress being of rustic red wool crepe, Numerous presents were received.”
Unfortunately for Gerald, the upcoming War seemed to be the end of the Romance, as recalled in the Stratford Upon Avon Herald, 9th May 1947:
“LOCAL NEWS – WIFE’S DESERTION
Gerald Spencer Goldby, of 34a, Shottery Road, Straford-on-Avon, was at Birmingham on Tuesday granted a decree nisi on the grounds of his Wife’s Desertion.
He did however remarry shortly afterwards, in 1949 to Edith D Butler, in Stratford.
The engagement: GOLDBY – BUTLER – The engagement is announced between Gerald Spencer, second son of Mr and Mrs J.H. Goldby, of Shottery Road, Stratford on Avon, and Edith, younger daughter or Mr and Mrs H. Butler, Dicote, Wilmcote.”
He later died in Stratford on Avon, during April 1983.
