Goldstraw & Goostrey  - Honours & Awards


The Order of the British Empire

(Member)

The Military Division is awarded for service in the field or before the enemy or for services to the Empire (Commonwealth). Members (M.B.E.) is part of the five-level hierarchy of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Bar: A silver emblem of two oak leaves is worn on the riband when the appointment to the Order is for Gallantry.

Obverse: Until 1936, the badge contained a representation of Britannia with the motto "FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE" in a circle around her. The post 1936 (current) badge contains the conjoint bust of King George V and Queen Mary facing left with the motto "FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE" in a circle around them.

Description: The badge is a cross patonce (four arms with three points at each end of a broad arm), with a crown on the top arm. The first three classes are of silver gilt, with the arms enamelled pearl grey; the OBE is of silver gilt; and the MBE is made of silver. The neck badges are 2 1/2" across and the breast badge is 2" across.

Reverse: A rope circle with the Royal Cypher surmounted by a crown. Hallmarks on the lower limb.

Mounting: Ring attached to the top of the Crown through which the ribbon passes.

Ribbon:

Pre 1936 Purple, with a narrow central Scarlet stripe
Post 1936 Rose-Pink with Pearl-Grey edges and a central narrow Pearl-Grey stripe.

 


 

Pilot Officer Herbert Eric Goldstraw, M.B.E.
Wg Cdr W H 'Goldie' Goldstraw DFC (207 Sqdrn RAF)
E. Walwyn Goldstraw, O.B.E.
Flt Lt Darren Andrew Goldstraw, M.B.E. (Now Squadron Leader)

 

GOLDSTRAW, P/O Herbert Eric (J88659) (Royal Canadian Air Force)

Member, Order of the British Empire - No.425 Squadron
Award effective 1 June 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1219/45 dated 27 July 1945. Born in Edmonton, 1914; home in Winnipeg (salesman). Enlisted 3 June 1942. Trained at No.3 WS (graduated 22 December 1942) and No.3 BGS (graduated 10 October 1943). Commissioned 1944.

In July 1944, a Halifax aircraft crashed at White Waltham on returning from operations and caught fire. Pilot Officer Goldstraw's aircraft had landed previously at the airfield and this officer, together with other members of his crew, as well as personnel of the ATA, immediately ran to the crashed aircraft. The unconscious rear gunner was lying partly in the turret and partly in the rear of the fuselage. The turret was jammed. Together with an ATA instructor, Pilot Officer Goldstraw, finding that the turret could not be swung back to release the rear gunner, owing to the position in which he was lying, entered the fuselage after forcing the normal entrance. At this time heat the starboard wing was blazing furiously and the heat was so intense that the starboard elevator burst into flames. It was necessary to remove the rear gunner's flying equipment before putting him back into the turret which could then be swung, thereby enabling helpers outside to extricate him. This gallant rescue was successfully accomplished in circumstances of great danger. Despite the flames and smoke, there was risk of the petrol tanks, bombs and ammunition exploding and, when the rear turret had been swung and the gunner passed to safety, exit was only possible through smoke and fumes. Pilot Officer Goldstraw showed courage and self-sacrifice in an action which undoubtedly was responsible for saving the life of a comrade. 


E. Walwyn Goldstraw Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Date Deceased: 2/3/2000
Age: age 89 


Flt Lt Darren Andrew Goldstraw (RAF)  -  MBE  New  Years  Honours  2004 ( Now Squadron Leader)


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