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Attended Hymers College:
1930 - 1939
What makes this nominee inspiring?
On the occasion of his 97th birthday, 29 May 2018, war hero and retired barrister Eric Goldrein, whose life story could fill several books was presented with the French Légion d’Honneur medal for his WWII heroics. Eric volunteered immediately on declaration of war at age 18, but was sent instead to start his scholarship at Cambridge University to read English. After two idyllic years, he got his chance to serve as a Troop Commander in the 11th Armoured Division Anti-Tank Regiment preparing for the invasion of Europe.
He landed on Gold Beach on D-Day + 4 and went straight into the fight with the retreating Germans. During the seven weeks he took part in the Normandy campaign he was wounded and taken prisoner. With his arm in a makeshift sling, he concealed his Jewish identity and knowledge of German, and persuaded a whole unit of the German army to surrender to him, before marching them back to the British lines.
After recovering from his wounds back in the UK, Eric volunteered for further service overseas, and fought in the Italy campaign at Salerno and celebrated VE Day in Florence before ending up in Germany as part of the Army of occupation.
He demobilised as a Major, returned to Cambridge to read law and was later called to the bar. In Liverpool, he married his wife, Inge, who had escaped the Nazis in 1939 as part of the Kindertransport, and they raised a family together. On retirement, Eric was elected as the Lord Mayor of Hale, living to the great old age of 101.