Dave, I've PMed you about it as I dont want to put anything in public without the relative's permission.
Although not related to Leslie Golding, the book 'Private Kelly' mentioned in an earlier reply might provide a little background as to how some of these men were picked up by the Soviet forces. Private Kelly is an odd little book about an even odder case. He was an RAMC orderly with 133 Parachute Field Ambulance captured at Arnhem. There is very little about this chap on the net and his story is a strange one. There is much in the book regarding his interrogation and imprisonment in Russian jails. From the very little research I have done on him (out of curiosity nothing more) he seems to be 14709611 Private Francis James W Kelly, RAMC. He was POW 91609 firstly at Stalag XIIA, and then held at Stalag 4B, which tallies with the Book. He was born in Kent, 28th October 1917, and appears to have died in early 2004. Sorry to digress slightly but interesting background on men captured behind the Iron Curtain. Regards Paul
Had permission from Leslie Golding's relative to post relevent info from their email to us. For some reason this evening I decided to have a look on the internet to see if anything interesting was listed about my late Grandfather Captain Leslie Golding paratrooper in 13th Battalion and came across your discussion re the idea that he might have disappeared behind the iron curtain. Don`t worry he didn`t. He came back and lived in Sunbury on thames with his wife Catherine and his 3 daughters, working as a solicitor for new scotland yard and then in his own firm based in Sunbury. Hope this is of interest to others.
Although not related to Leslie Golding, the book 'Private Kelly' mentioned in an earlier reply might provide a little background as to how some of these men were picked up by the Soviet forces. Private Kelly is an odd little book about an even odder case. He was an RAMC orderly with 133 Parachute Field Ambulance captured at Arnhem. There is very little about this chap on the net and his story is a strange one. There is much in the book regarding his interrogation and imprisonment in Russian jails. From the very little research I have done on him (out of curiosity nothing more) he seems to be 14709611 Private Francis James W Kelly, RAMC. He was POW 91609 firstly at Stalag XIIA, and then held at Stalag 4B, which tallies with the Book. He was born in Kent, 28th October 1917, and appears to have died in early 2004. Sorry to digress slightly but interesting background on men captured behind the Iron Curtain. Regards Paul Hi Paul, Definitely not digressing at all. Kelly's story is fascinating, to say the least. I like the pun on the book's cover "by himself". I first heard his story in the late 80s but had no idea how to contact him. I wasn't aware he lived until 2004. I did find a great deal of information, mostly from The Times, in Nigel Cawthorne's "Iron Cage" After eight years in Soviet prisons to return and be charged with being absent without leave seems to have been a bit excessive. Cawthorne makes the point that the threat of an even longer prison term in the UK was a "good way to shut someone up" I am aware of a town in the former East Germany where where deserters from the British, American and French armies were taken. Most of these men were from post war occupation troops. Some of the documents I have seen have home addresses in the UK for the men. I wonder if they came home after the Wall came down? Most likely not as they did enjoy a lifestyle better than the average East German until the wall came down and I suspect there may have still had charges pending should they turn themselves in. Are you aware of the story of Military Policeman James Allan? Captured at Dunkirk he escaped from a stalag in Poland and went east. The Russians picked him up and he ended up in Lubianka. He learned to speak Russian so quickly that they suspected him of being a spy. Took about 18 months to get him out. He was awarded, IIRC, the Military Medal. Name of his book? "No Citation" Regards, Dave
Had permission from Leslie Golding's relative to post relevent info from their email to us. For some reason this evening I decided to have a look on the internet to see if anything interesting was listed about my late Grandfather Captain Leslie Golding paratrooper in 13th Battalion and came across your discussion re the idea that he might have disappeared behind the iron curtain. Don`t worry he didn`t. He came back and lived in Sunbury on thames with his wife Catherine and his 3 daughters, working as a solicitor for new scotland yard and then in his own firm based in Sunbury. Hope this is of interest to others. Cheers for that, Owen. As mentioned to you I have again written Major Ellis Dean to let him know "not his chap". Many thanks to the grandchild of the other Leslie Golding for allowing us to rule him out. Regards, Dave
Using the service number provided earlier - 105579 - and looking through the London Gazette database on Ancestry came across Leslie Herbert Unwin Golding 105579 - S Lancs Will keep looking TD
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Leslie Herbert Unwin Golding Birth Date: 18 Feb 1920 Date of Registration: Dec 1997 Age at Death: 77 Registration district: Surrey Northern Inferred County: Surrey Register Number: NSD3 District and Subdistrict: 7571D Entry Number: 239 England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2005 Name: Leslie H U Golding Mother's Maiden Surname: Hannam Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1920 Registration district: Brentford Inferred County: Oxfordshire Volume Number: 3a Page Number: 266 England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 Name: Leslie H U Golding Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1942 Registration district: Staines Inferred County: Middlesex Spouse: Catherine A Lewis Volume Number: 3a Page Number: 68 Not sure it helps but perhaps crosses one off the list and thereby has an effect? TD
Thanks, TD. He was ruled out as per Owen's Post #43. The other Leslie Golding (Leslie Victor Golding) appears to have been a rascal. I'm sure I still have his marriage certificate somewhere so will get his birth year.
Hello all, I know this is an old thread and you probably don't need more information on Leslie, but I thought I'd mention that he and Catherine divorced and he re-married my mother, Susan, and had another three children of whom I am the youngest (30). I only knew him for 8 years before he passed away, but he was a very kind man, with a wonderful sense of humour. With VE Day coming up tomorrow I googled his name and found this thread. I'd love to know more about his time in the war (beyond the stories he told my mother) so if anyone knows anything I'd be grateful to hear from you. Helena
