Thomas William Gould
Petty Officer, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 471 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Petty Officer all Petty Officers →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS Thrasher) all HMS Thrasher VCs →
- Date of action
- 16 February 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 9th June 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
- Born
- 28th December, 1914 at Dover
- Died
- 6th December, 2001
Digest of citation
On 16th February, 1942 north of Crete, HM Submarine Thrasher, after attacking and sinking a supply ship, was itself attacked, and later, after surfacing, two unexploded bombs were discovered in the gun casing. The first Lieutenant * and Petty Officer Gould removed the first one without too much difficulty, but the second was lying in a very confined space and they had to approach it lying full length. Petty Officer Gould then lay on his back with the bomb in his arms while the Lieutenant dragged him along by the shoulders. It was 40 minutes before they got the bomb clear and dropped it over the side
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GOULD, Thomas William. (reg No. 471).
Petty Officer. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 9th June 1942.
Born on 28th December, 1914 at Dover.
Died on 6th December, 2001
Digest of Citation reads: On 16th February, 1942 north of Crete, HM Submarine Thrasher, after attacking and sinking a supply ship, was itself attacked, and later, after surfacing, two unexploded bombs were discovered in the gun casing. The first Lieutenant * and Petty Officer Gould removed the first one without too much difficulty, but the second was lying in a very confined space and they had to approach it lying full length. Petty Officer Gould then lay on his back with the bomb in his arms while the Lieutenant dragged him along by the shoulders. It was 40 minutes before they got the bomb clear and dropped it over the side.
* beat P.S.W.Roberts (reg No. 1063).
Additional information:. Lieutenant Commander Gould was deeply attached to his Jewish roots. He fought continually for the right's of the Jewish people in Palestine from the time he left the service in 1946 until the Jewish nation of Israel was established in 1948. He was a proud member of the following service associations, the Royal British Legion, Royal Naval Association and the International Submarine Association. In 1941 he married Phyllis Eldridge and they had one son. Phyllis passed away in 1985. His younger brother, who was also in the Royal Naval Submarine Service was lost during the war. At the time of this entry, December 10th, 2001, Lieutenant Commander Gould's death at the age of 86 years leaves 19 holders of the Victoria Cross still living.
Additional information
Lieutenant Commander Gould was deeply attached to his Jewish roots. He fought continually for the right's of the Jewish people in Palestine from the time he left the service in 1946 until the Jewish nation of Israel was established in 1948. He was a proud member of the following service associations, the Royal British Legion, Royal Naval Association and the International Submarine Association. In 1941 he married Phyllis Eldridge and they had one son. Phyllis passed away in 1985. His younger brother, who was also in the Royal Naval Submarine Service was lost during the war. At the time of this entry, December 10th, 2001, Lieutenant Commander Gould's death at the age of 86 years leaves 19 holders of the Victoria Cross still living.
* beat P.S.W.Roberts (reg No. 1063).
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