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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 676

The 1944 M.B.E. group of five awarded to Squadron Leader C. R. Gooding, Royal Air Force, who was 'mentioned' in 1919 having been downgraded from a Croix De Guerre

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Member's (M.B.E.) breast Badge, silver; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. C. R. Gooding. R.A.F.), with M.I.D. oak leaf; Defence Medal 1939-45; Cadet Forces L.S. & G.C., with second award bar (Act. Sqn. Ldr. C. R. Gooding. R.A.F.V.R. (T).), minor contact wear overall, very fine (5)

M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1944, the original citation states:

'This officer commands the Borough of the Woolwich Wing, Air Training Corps. He joined the A.D.C.C. in June 1940 and has commanded No. 56 Squadron Air Training Corps and subsequently Woolwich Wing with marked success. He is an extremely competent officer and has worked very hard to keep his units in a high state of efficiency. All the units of the Woolwich wing are good and one of them (no. 56 Flight Lieutenant Gooding's old Squadron) holds the highest number of Proficiency Certificates in the Command.'

Charles Robert Gooding was born at Woolwich on 25 June 1896, the son of Charles and Harriett Gooding of 57 Auberon Street, North Woolwich. He was working as a junior clerk in 1911 and was too young to enlist on the outbreak of war, joining the London Regiment with the number 490924 and enlisting as a Cadet. Gooding was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 13 December 1917, he trained at No. 16 Flying Training School before being advanced Lieutenant on 1 April 1918 and posted to No. 7 Squadron on 15 May.

This Squadron was flying 5.E.8s at the time and flying bombing and reconnaissance missions in support of ground troops. He was still flying with them in June, crashing twice in the same week, the first time on 2 June when his machine swerved into another aircraft. The second time was on a counter-attack patrol, two hours after take off his left 'Vee Strut' snapped, causing the aircraft to swing about and turn on its side, astoundingly Gooding and his Observer made it down intact.

He was mentioned (London Gazette 11 July 1919) for his service on 28 September 1918 in support of the Allied Hundred Days Offensive. The original recommendation was for a Belgian Croix De Guerre and came with a citation which states:

'This Officer rendered extremely valuable service in co-operating with the Infantry during the battle which commenced on 28 Sept. 1918 carrying out a number of good Contact Patrols and frequently obtaining valuable information.'

Gooding continued to fly until the end of the war however he was hospitalised in January 1919, likely with spanish flu and invalided back to Britain on 16 January. Recovering he was placed upon the Unemployed List on 24 April 1919 and returned to civilian life, appearing on the 1939 census as a building society clerk in Woolwich.

Returning to Service on the outbreak of the Second World War, he joined the Air Defence Cadet Corps and was appointed Pilot Officer on 27 June 1941. Posted to command No. 56 Squadron Air Training Corps and finally the Woolwich Wing of the Air Training Corps for which he was appointed an M.B.E.

Continuing to serve after the War, Gooding was promoted Flying Officer on 16 December 1947 and extended his service several times over the 1950s. He relinquished his commission on 2 February 1960, retaining the rank of Squadron Leader. Gooding died at Colchester in 1991; sold together with slip and envelope of issue for the Defence Medal and a comprehensive research file, including service papers, census data and recommendations as well as London Gazette extracts and incident reports.

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Sold for
£420

Starting price
£350