Silver for Golder - Golder Twins part 2
Major Richard George Golder Army Cadet Force
1939-45 Star. Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Jubilee Medal 1977. Cadet Forces Medal & 2 clasps.
The Man Richard George Golder was born on Saturday 3rd November 1923 in Cheltenham, son of Alfred William a Physical Training Instructor and Games Master at Dean Close School and Edith May nee Thresher.
He was one of seven children, Marjory born in 1909, Kathleen May 1912, Mary Georgina 1913, Jean 23rd July 1917, Audrey 1920 who died shortly after birth, and his twin John Bewley, born the same day, 3rd November 1923. The 1921 census shows the family living at 28 Tennyson Road in Cheltenham.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, Richard was aged 15 and too young to enlist, however the 1939 Register shows him living with John and family still at 28 Tennyson Road and they both members of 125 (Cheltenham) Squadron Air Defence Cadet Corps.
Once aged 18 in 1941, Richard enlisted into the armed forces for the duration of the war, for which he was awarded 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
On 5th May 1948 he enlisted into the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers (TARO) for service with the Army Cadet Force in Gloucester and was Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant service number 389561, John joining the same day with the preceeding service number 389560. They may have been following their father as he was a Major in the ACF and awarded the MBE in 1947.
On 1st April 1950 following re-organisation of the Army structure Richard transferred from the TARO special list to the Army Cadet Force still as a 2nd Lieutenant and with seniority backdated.
He and John were promoted to Lieutenant and acting Captain on 8th November 1951 and in the London Gazette of 29th July 1960 awarded the Cadet Forces Medal for 12 years’ service to the ACF in Gloucester.
Subsequently promoted to Acting Major, Richard was awarded the first clasp to his CFM on 11th July 1972 and in 1974 he and John were still living at 28 Tennyson Road. In 1977 he was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal whilst serving at the ACF Headquarters in Gloucester and on 29th April 1980 the second clasp to his CFM representing 28 years’ service to the Cadet Forces.
On 31st January 1985 Richard retired from the ACF aged 62 retaining the rank of Honorary Major and still living at 28 Tennyson Road, St Marks, Cheltenham with John.
In later life Richard and John were residents at Grevill House, 279 London Road, Charlton Kings, a Nursing Home in Cheltenham and he died on 25th July 1994 aged 70, John having passed away three years before on 31st January 1991 aged 68.
Richard and John did not marry and had no children.
The Story The medals awarded to John Bewley Golder and his brother Richard George Golder, were acquired in quite different circumstances to each other and several years apart.
Richard’s medals were won on e-Bay on 21st December 2008 and were of interest because of the Cadet Forces Medal and 1977 Silver Jubilee combination.
Some basic research was undertaken from the London Gazette and ancestry.com during which it was noted that he had a twin brother, John Bewley Golder who had been appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Cadet Force the same days as Richard and whose service was one digit behind him. They shadowed each other in the London Gazette until 1970 when John resigned.
A search for Richard’s will in London proved unsuccessful and on a subsequent visit John’s will was withdrawn to establish if there were any further leads.
No further research was undertaken until an e-mail was received in January 2014, as a result of this web site, offering John’s Cadet Forces Medal for sale. Clearly the chance of reuniting medals of twins was too great an opportunity to turn down and John’s CFM was eventually acquired in March 2014 and married with Richards.
Although their biographies were basic, it is an example of the power of the internet, as previously the medals may never have been bought back together.
In January 2024 following the release of the World War II Medal Index Cards on Ancestry, a search was made for both Richard and John. John’s record card showed he was entitled to the 1939-45, Africa, Italy Stars, Defence and War Medals 1939-45. Additionally, his RA Tracer Card was available as well as additional information enabling his and Richard’s biography to be expanded significantly.
Richard’s will was also located successfully on the government probate search site.
Oddly Richard’s medal entitlement could not be confirmed, but it is possible he served in the Royal Air Force during WWII as both he and John are shown on the 1939 Register as being members of the Air Defence Cadet Corps, forerunner of the Air Training Corps.
Another example of ‘Research never ending’!
Richard’s medals were won on e-Bay on 21st December 2008 and were of interest because of the Cadet Forces Medal and 1977 Silver Jubilee combination.
Some basic research was undertaken from the London Gazette and ancestry.com during which it was noted that he had a twin brother, John Bewley Golder who had been appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Cadet Force the same days as Richard and whose service was one digit behind him. They shadowed each other in the London Gazette until 1970 when John resigned.
A search for Richard’s will in London proved unsuccessful and on a subsequent visit John’s will was withdrawn to establish if there were any further leads.
No further research was undertaken until an e-mail was received in January 2014, as a result of this web site, offering John’s Cadet Forces Medal for sale. Clearly the chance of reuniting medals of twins was too great an opportunity to turn down and John’s CFM was eventually acquired in March 2014 and married with Richards.
Although their biographies were basic, it is an example of the power of the internet, as previously the medals may never have been bought back together.
In January 2024 following the release of the World War II Medal Index Cards on Ancestry, a search was made for both Richard and John. John’s record card showed he was entitled to the 1939-45, Africa, Italy Stars, Defence and War Medals 1939-45. Additionally, his RA Tracer Card was available as well as additional information enabling his and Richard’s biography to be expanded significantly.
Richard’s will was also located successfully on the government probate search site.
Oddly Richard’s medal entitlement could not be confirmed, but it is possible he served in the Royal Air Force during WWII as both he and John are shown on the 1939 Register as being members of the Air Defence Cadet Corps, forerunner of the Air Training Corps.
Another example of ‘Research never ending’!
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Silver Jubilee Medal 1977: Unnamed as awarded.
- Cadet Forces Medal: CAPT. R.G.GOLDER.
This page last updated 13 Apr 25
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