Australian Groups

Lot 2067    Session 7 (11.30am Wednesday)    Australian Groups

Estimate $200,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

GROUP OF EIGHT: George Cross; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; France & Germany Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; British War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Coronation Medal 1953. Lieut. George Gosse R.A.N.V.R. 30 April 1946 on GC, G.Gosse R.A.N.V.R on second to seventh. GC engraved, others impressed. Very fine.

GC: L.G. 30Apr1946 '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 GD pressure type which was commonly known as an Oyster. As it was very 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 8th (sic), 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. This form of operation called for 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 of visibility produced a set of conditions which would deter the boldest. 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.'

George Gosse (1912-1965) was born on 16th February 1912 at Harvey, Western Australia. He was educated at St. Peter's College, Adelaide, South Australia and in January 1926 he entered the Royal Australian Naval College as a thirteen year-old Cadet Midshipman. After graduating to Midshipman in May 1930,he went to sea for eighteen months with the Australian squadron. This was followed by a further eighteen months with the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean Fleet aboard Ramillies, Glorious and Worcester. In September 1932, Gosse was promoted to acting sub-Lieutenant after passing the seamanship exam.However, he later failed the final exam and returned to Australia in 1933.

On 1 September 1939, the day of Germany's invasion of Poland, Gosse applied to offer his services once again to the Navy. Although this and several further offers were declined, Gosse was selected for service as Ordinary Seaman in October 1940. Entering the Royal Australian Navy Volunteer Reserves, he served in Calcutta as Bomb Disposal Officer from October 1941 to June 1943. During this period his reporting officer, Capt Sanderson, commented on Gosse as 'a daring character with good knowledge of mines... always cheerful and gets along well with the men'. His next field of service was as a mine disposal diver operating in captured European ports. It appears Gosse had found his calling; in contrast to his commanding officer reports of his earlier naval service, which were predominately average, his classification as officer for the period 27th Oct 1944 to 30th June 1945 was 'exceptionally outstanding'. During this period he was attached to HMS Vernon and performed the action for which he was later awarded the George Cross. He died 31 December 1965.

With Journal [for the use of Midshipmen], a detailed account of service 1930-32 including many personal sketches and diagrams (178 pages); photographic album illustrating service during Second World War, including classified photographs (130 photographs); service records 1930-1945 (32 pages).