John Mould
| John Stuart Mould GC GM | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
21 March 1910 Gosforth, England |
| Died |
9 August 1957 (aged 47) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Allegiance |
 Australia |
| Service/branch |
Second Australian Imperial Force Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve |
| Years of service | 1940 – 1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Commander |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards |
 George CrossGeorge Medal King's Commendation for Brave Conduct |
| Other work | Chief architect to the Housing Commission of New South Wales |
John Stuart Mould GC, GM (21 March 1910 – 9 August 1957) was an Australian recipient of the United Kingdom's George Cross.
He was born in Gosforth, Northumberland and emigrated with his family to Australia in childhood. He served with HMS Vernon in mine disposal and was praised for 'outstanding work on dock clearance operations and those resulting in the stripping of the early German mine Type G'. He received a commendation for bravery in June 1941 and was awarded the George Medal in April 1942.
He recovered, defused and investigated the first example of a German moored magnetic mine and won the George Cross in November 1942 for 'great gallantry and devotion to duty'.
He later worked with Doctor John Scott Haldane on developing a diving suit with an integrated air system. After the war he was appointed chief architect to the Housing Commission of New South Wales in 1950. He died on 9 August 1957 in Royal North Shore Hospital due to peritonitis.
The story of his wartime service was told in "Softly Tread The Brave - A triumph over terror, devilry, and death by mine disposal officers John Stuart Mould, GC, GM and Hugh Randal Syme, GC, GM and Bar" - by Ivan Southall. A park and a memorial are found at this location .
Mould died on 9 August 1957 at the Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, (northern) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He was cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Lane Cove, (northern) Sydney on 12 August and his ashes interred in the Ex-Service Personnel Wall.
References
- Cooper, Alastair (2000). "Mould, John Stuart (1910 – 1957)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University. Retrieved 2009-02-15.