550:(POW) who had been involved in the demolition of the Überseehafen and its facilities who described a mine known as an "Oyster", which was "impossible to sweep for and could never be rendered safe". After arriving in Bremen, Gosse risked his life many times in defusing mines. When his divers reported a sighting of what appeared to be a new form of mine, on 8 May Gosse dived himself and verified that it was a "D-type mine with additional fittings", the "Oyster" mine described by the German POW. This mine was pressure-operated, and its detonation train included magnetic and acoustic elements. About 18:00 the next day, Gosse examined the mine by touch, as the visibility was so poor that his waterproof torch was of no use. In order to maintain his depth, he had to tether himself to the mine marker buoy rope. Using tools he had improvised, Gosse interrupted the detonation train by removing the primer release and the primer, which had to be extracted from about 18 inches (460 mm) down a 2-inch (51 mm) wide tube. Having made the mine safe, Gosse was releasing his tether when there was a small explosion. Later examination of the mine showed that water had entered the primer tube and actuated a water pressure trigger set to fire the detonator if the mine was raised. Gosse personally defused two more "Oyster" mines at Bremen between 9 and 19 May, and in both cases, the detonator fired before the mine reached the surface. Another officer from Naval Party 1571 said later that "if Gosse hadn't found an answer to the , Bremen Harbour would have been unusable".
607:
necessary that this type of mine should be recovered intact, it was decided to attempt to render safe the mine underwater and on the following day, May 9th, Lieutenant Gosse dived on it again. Using improvised tools he eventually succeeded in removing the primer, which was followed by a loud metallic crash. The mine was eventually lifted on the quayside when it was found that the detonator had fired immediately the primer had been removed. During the subsequent ten days
Lieutenant Gosse rendered safe two similar types of mines which were lying in close proximity to shipping and in each instance the detonator fired before the mine reached the surface.
499:
585:
47:
610:
This form of operation called for an exceptionally high standard of personal courage and also a high degree of skill. The conditions were always arduous and were combined with the presence of known mines in the docks and with all forms of underwater obstruction—human corpses—which together with lack
494:
in
October 1942. Although his 1940 annual report had described him as "below average, for whom it was doubtful a niche could be found", two years later his report indicated that he was reliable and keen, and displayed ingenuity. When faced with difficulties, he was always cheerful, and was "a daring
606:
On the 8th May, 1945, divers searching
Ubersee Hafen reported the presence of a mine which from their description appeared to be an entirely new type. Lieutenant Gosse immediately dived and verified the fact that it was a G.D. pressure type which was commonly known as "Oyster". As it was very
652:
promoted to lieutenant commander on 30 June 1955 before retiring in 1958. He remained an inventive designer, creating many useful domestic gadgets and fittings, but his interest waned once a challenge had been met. According to his entry in the
398:, he was returned to Australia and his naval career ended on 30 October 1933. Gosse then worked at odd jobs for a few years, and on 1 October 1938 he married Diana Skottowe at his old school chapel. The couple had two daughters.
233:
Gosse continued to serve in the RANVR after the war, reaching the rank of lieutenant commander before retiring in 1958, and died of a heart condition in 1964. His medal set is displayed in the Hall of Valour at the
230:
Harbour in
Germany. He displayed exceptional courage in defusing three mines under very difficult conditions between 8 and 19 May 1945, which resulted in him being awarded the George Cross.
521:
base for the Royal Navy. Clearance diving teams were responsible for removing naval mines from
British waters, and from the waters of captured ports on the European mainland. He brought a
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458:
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daily newspaper and was surprised to learn he was to receive an award for doing something he enjoyed so much. He joked, "George Gosse, George Cross. Sounds like a test of sobriety".
535:, he was a bit of a "law unto himself" in this period, but was fascinated with mechanical devices and exhibited inventiveness. He qualified as a shallow-water diver in January 1945.
226:
clearance specialist. He returned to the UK in late 1944, and in April 1945 he was given command of a naval party responsible for mine clearance in the recently captured
614:
This officer displayed courage and zeal far in excess of the usual course of duty and contributed greatly to the success of a most difficult and important operation.
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in 1926, aged 13. According to a family member he was "so like his father, gay, feckless, fearless and gregarious". While at the RAN College he excelled at
1364:
288:
for gallantry and was killed in action in 1918. Muriel died in 1920; George and his younger sister were then cared for by their paternal grandmother.
618:
The George Cross was the highest award for extraordinary acts of gallantry away from the field of battle that could be awarded to a member of the
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300:
683:
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184:
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disposal officer. In
February 1942 he was promoted to provisional lieutenant. In August he was transferred to the shore establishment
703:
311:, and upon graduation in 1930 received the prize for engineering theory. Beginning in January 1930 he served aboard both Australian
1165:
726:
415:
211:
143:
1379:
1188:. The Official History of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1975. St. Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
191:, the highest award for extraordinary acts of gallantry away from the field of battle that could be awarded to a member of the
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394:. The social and sporting temptations of London beckoned, and Gosse's studies suffered. After he failed the examination for
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1113:
702:
wrote that Gosse "always lived right on top of the world, as though every day was his last". He is commemorated on the
659:, his work was mostly "unspectacular". He was president of the Sporting Car Club of South Australia from 1946 to 1948.
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531:
1203:
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on 30 September 1945 and was demobilised on 20 March 1946. For his service in World War II, Gosse was awarded the
542:, Germany, in April, Gosse led Naval Party 1571 to the port to clear mines laid by the retreating Germans in the
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85:
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in May of that year. In July 1931, he sailed for the United
Kingdom for further training with the British
218:. Quickly sent back to the United Kingdom, he served on several shore establishments before being sent to
699:
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at the time. Three days after his GC was promulgated, Gosse was visited at home by a journalist from
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69:
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recruiting campaign throughout South
Australia, before collapsing from nervous strain at a rally in
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439:, in April 1941 he was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant while posted to the shore establishment
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25:
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began, Gosse attempted to rejoin the RAN, but was rebuffed. Gosse managed to enlist as an
8:
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Transferred back to the UK in
November 1944, Gosse was posted to the shore establishment
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729:, in Western Australia (now Hollywood Private Hospital) has been named in his honour.
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1150:"George Cross : Lieutenant G Gosse, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve"
432:, before sailing for the UK in December. After serving at the shore establishment
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on 21 October 1940. He initially underwent training at the shore establishments
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For
Gallantry: Australians Awarded the George Cross & the Cross of Valour
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469:
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219:
1263:. Vol. 90, no. 10241. South Australia. 7 December 1950. p. 13
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36:
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Up Top: The Royal Australian Navy and Southeast Asian Conflicts, 1955–1972
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of visibility produced a set of conditions which would deter the boldest.
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546:. Prior to being sent forward to Bremen, Gosse had interrogated a German
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mine back with him to the UK, as he considered it would be of use at HMS
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250:, the elder child of William Hay Gosse, a farmer, and his wife Muriel
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1282:. North Sydney, NSW: ReadHowYouWant.com (originally published by
514:
465:
1239:"Pre First World War Conflicts Nominal Rolls: William Hay Gosse"
682:. In 1964, he travelled to the UK for a reunion and joined the
670:. In 1953 he was part of the contingent sent to the UK for the
584:
539:
491:
227:
1304:
Victoria Cross: Australia's Finest and the Battles they Fought
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846:
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842:
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Of Nautilus and Eagles: History of the Royal Australian Navy
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970:
483:. This was followed by a posting to the shore establishment
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453:, then in December of that year he was transferred to the
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His medal set is displayed in the Hall of Valour at the
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with his George Cross in Adelaide on 3 June 1948 by the
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and receiving training and experience with the British
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1385:Royal Australian Navy personnel of World War II
1370:Graduates of the Royal Australian Naval College
1233:(1st supplement). 26 April 1946. p. 2085.
372:, and was familiarised with the employment of
648:. He continued to serve in the RANVR and was
502:George Gosse defuses a German mine at Bremen.
495:character" who was very interested in mines.
246:George Gosse was born on 16 February 1912 at
183:(16 February 1912 – 31 December 1964) was an
446:. He next served at the shore establishment
256:Davidson. He was a grandson of the explorer
199:between 1926 and 1933, reaching the rank of
694:on 31 December 1964, and was cremated. The
684:Victoria Cross and George Cross Association
1117:. Canberra: Australian National University
45:
1365:Australian recipients of the George Cross
1300:
1106:
1068:
854:
809:
782:
727:Repatriation General Hospital, Hollywood
583:
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416:Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve
358:. He also attended an air course on the
241:
212:Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve
16:Australian recipient of the George Cross
1129:
902:
592:On 26 April 1946, Gosse's award of the
383:. In September 1932 he was promoted to
1347:
1321:
1275:
1087:
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941:
929:
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1375:People from Harvey, Western Australia
517:, Devon, which was the European port
299:, from 1920 to 1925, and entered the
251:
1325:Awards of the George Cross 1940–2009
1180:
1166:"Gosse, George Lieutenant Commander"
1025:Department of Veterans' Affairs 2019
890:
260:and a nephew of the businessman Sir
1307:. Prahran, Victoria: Hardie Grant.
680:Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
264:. His father had served in the 2nd
13:
1134:. Richmond, Victoria: Hutchinson.
1114:Australian Dictionary of Biography
662:During 1950, Gosse was part of an
656:Australian Dictionary of Biography
532:Australian Dictionary of Biography
14:
1396:
1328:. Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword.
1168:. Department of Veterans' Affairs
579:Australia Service Medal 1939–1945
195:at the time. Gosse served in the
1092:. Sydney: New South Publishing.
529:. According to his entry in the
340:His first assignment was to the
1037:Hollywood Private Hospital 2019
700:Brigadier Sir John George Smyth
401:
266:South Australian Mounted Rifles
51:Lieutenant George Gosse c. 1945
1380:Royal Australian Navy officers
1255:"Recruiting Speaker Collapses"
1209:National Archives of Australia
392:Royal Naval College, Greenwich
301:Royal Australian Naval College
1:
1046:
959:Australian War Memorial 2019b
822:Australian War Memorial 2019a
631:
406:On 1 September 1939, the day
351:super-dreadnought battleship
86:Maslin Beach, South Australia
1056:. Hollywood Private Hospital
732:
704:Returned and Services League
293:St Peter's College, Adelaide
7:
1322:Turner, John Frayn (2010).
1109:"Gosse, George (1912–1964)"
642:Governor of South Australia
280:as an artillery officer in
10:
1401:
1301:Staunton, Anthony (2005).
1130:Firkins, Peter C. (1983).
1107:Crawford, I. McL. (1996).
1069:Ashcroft, Michael (2010).
553:He was promoted to acting
1241:. Australian War Memorial
1152:. Australian War Memorial
712:Pasadena, South Australia
538:Following the capture of
248:Harvey, Western Australia
159:
131:
121:
111:
99:
91:
75:
70:Harvey, Western Australia
56:
44:
23:
1073:. London, UK: Headline.
708:Centennial Park Cemetery
596:(GC) was promulgated in
144:South-East Asian theatre
1276:Salmon, Gregor (2011).
719:Australian War Memorial
664:Australian armed forces
620:Australian armed forces
567:France and Germany Star
236:Australian War Memorial
214:(RANVR) for service in
210:In 1940, he joined the
193:Australian armed forces
1088:Blanch, Craig (2020).
879:National Archives 2019
867:National Archives 2019
678:, and was awarded the
616:
589:
503:
376:during a stint aboard
315:heavy cruisers, first
291:Gosse was schooled at
1204:"NAA: A6769, Gosse G"
1054:"A History of Caring"
646:Sir Willoughby Norrie
644:, Lieutenant General
604:
602:. The citation read:
587:
501:
329:. He was promoted to
284:. He was awarded the
242:Early life and career
197:Royal Australian Navy
112:Years of service
106:Royal Australian Navy
555:lieutenant commander
457:shore establishment
185:Australian recipient
172:Lieutenant Commander
126:Lieutenant commander
26:Lieutenant Commander
1071:George Cross Heroes
920:, pp. 112–113.
857:, pp. 116–118.
575:War Medal 1939–1945
342:Mediterranean Fleet
1230:The London Gazette
972:The London Gazette
688:coronary occlusion
686:. Gosse died of a
676:Queen Elizabeth II
599:The London Gazette
590:
504:
390:, and entered the
1335:978-1-84884-200-7
1314:978-1-74273-486-6
1293:978-1-4596-2373-6
1141:978-0-09-148290-9
1099:978-1-74223-682-7
1080:978-0-7553-6452-7
944:, pp. 84–85.
455:Royal Indian Navy
365:aircraft carrier
303:(RAN College) at
276:, and joined the
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1339:
1318:
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1284:Ebury Publishing
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1011:The Border Watch
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588:The George Cross
519:clearance diving
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149:European theatre
139:Second World War
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79:31 December 1964
67:16 February 1912
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1013:7 December 1950
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988:, p. viii.
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928:
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789:
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548:prisoner of war
412:ordinary seaman
404:
297:South Australia
270:Second Boer War
262:James Hay Gosse
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978:
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946:
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922:
907:
905:, p. 116.
895:
893:, p. 280.
883:
871:
859:
826:
814:
812:, p. 313.
787:
737:
736:
734:
731:
725:at the former
696:Victoria Cross
633:
630:
625:The Advertiser
559:1939–1945 Star
403:
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388:sub-lieutenant
286:Military Cross
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201:sub-lieutenant
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83:(aged 52)
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1000:, p. 85.
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974:26 April 1946
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943:
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932:, p. 83.
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868:
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855:Ashcroft 2010
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810:Staunton 2005
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571:Defence Medal
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1265:. Retrieved
1258:
1243:. Retrieved
1228:
1213:. Retrieved
1207:
1185:
1170:. Retrieved
1154:. Retrieved
1131:
1119:. Retrieved
1112:
1089:
1070:
1058:. Retrieved
1032:
1020:
1010:
1005:
993:
981:
971:
966:
937:
925:
903:Firkins 1983
898:
886:
881:, p. 4.
874:
869:, p. 2.
862:
817:
716:
692:Maslin Beach
661:
654:
635:
623:
617:
613:
609:
605:
597:
594:George Cross
591:
552:
544:Überseehafen
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486:
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408:World War II
405:
402:World War II
379:
368:
360:
354:
346:
339:
325:
318:
313:County-class
309:field hockey
290:
278:British Army
274:South Africa
245:
232:
216:World War II
209:
189:George Cross
175:George Gosse
174:
170:
164:George Cross
132:Battles/wars
81:(1964-12-31)
31:George Gosse
18:
1360:1964 deaths
1355:1912 births
1279:Navy Divers
1225:"No. 37549"
998:Salmon 2011
986:Blanch 2020
942:Salmon 2011
930:Salmon 2011
918:Turner 2010
443:King Alfred
436:Collingwood
282:World War I
1349:Categories
1047:References
698:recipient
672:coronation
636:Gosse was
632:Later life
577:, and the
563:Burma Star
474:naval mine
459:HMIS
427:HMAS
396:lieutenant
374:destroyers
361:Courageous
335:Royal Navy
331:midshipman
324:HMAS
317:HMAS
305:Jervis Bay
224:naval mine
205:Royal Navy
92:Allegiance
63:1912-02-16
891:Grey 1998
733:Footnotes
508:HMS
485:HMS
450:President
448:HMS
441:HMS
434:HMS
380:Worcester
378:HMS
367:HMS
355:Ramillies
353:HMS
319:Australia
117:1940–1958
115:1926–1933
95:Australia
1184:(1998).
638:invested
523:Japanese
487:Braganza
466:Calcutta
429:Cerberus
369:Glorious
326:Canberra
100:Service/
1267:31 July
668:Renmark
515:Brixham
472:, as a
461:Hooghly
422:Torrens
414:in the
347:Revenge
268:in the
187:of the
1332:
1311:
1290:
1192:
1138:
1096:
1077:
573:, the
569:, the
565:, the
561:, the
540:Bremen
527:Vernon
510:Vernon
492:Bombay
385:acting
363:-class
349:-class
228:Bremen
160:Awards
102:branch
1245:9 May
1215:8 May
1172:9 May
1156:8 May
1121:8 May
1060:9 May
480:Lanka
420:HMAS
322:then
222:as a
1330:ISBN
1309:ISBN
1288:ISBN
1269:2019
1247:2019
1217:2019
1190:ISBN
1174:2019
1158:2019
1136:ISBN
1123:2019
1094:ISBN
1075:ISBN
1062:2019
723:ward
721:. A
478:HMS
425:and
122:Rank
76:Died
57:Born
1286:).
710:in
690:at
674:of
513:at
490:in
464:in
272:in
253:née
1351::
1257:.
1227:.
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1111:.
949:^
910:^
829:^
790:^
741:^
714:.
581:.
468:,
337:.
295:,
238:.
207:.
180:GC
177:,
37:GC
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61:(
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