b. ? d. 1949 Bombay (now Mumbai), India.
DATE AND PLACE OF GC ACTION: 16/09/1933 Surat, India.
Abdus Samid Abdul Wahid Golandaz (? – 1949) , it is believed, was born in India, though the date of his birth, and details about his early life are unknown. What is known is that he became a landowner, property owner and sand contractor in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. He was an owner of a fleet of boats and trained boatmen which he allowed the local authorities in Surat, Rander or any surrounding districts to use when they were threatened by floods.
George Cross
On 16th September 1933, the river Tapti had swollen to such proportions that one of the sluices in the city wall had been damaged and water was pouring in through it, threatening to flood the city. Golandaz volunteered to dive into the flooded river and ascertain the nature and extent of the damage. He accomplished this brave feat successfully and then blocked the sluice with sandbags at considerable risk to his own life.
It was not the first time that he had shown conspicuous gallantry. In 1930 he rescued the boys of the Government High School and the family of the excise inspector from flooding. As a result of his action in September 1933, he was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal (London Gazette 1st June 1934). In September 1940, following the creation of the George Cross, Golandaz was automatically entitled to exchange his EGM for the new decoration.
Golandaz died in India sometime in 1949, and it is believed that he was cremated in an unknown location. His GC is privately held.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD.
BURIAL PLACE: UNKNOWN, PROBABLY CREMATED.
