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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
MOULDEN, Patrick Simon - It is with deep sorrow and love that on December 24th, 2022, Leading Seaman Patrick Simon Moulden, aka Patty MO of Hamilton, Ontario, sadly and suddenly passed away at the age of 48.
Patrick (Patty) Moulden is survived by his son Oliver, his mother Elizabeth, his father Alfie, and his siblings Andrew, Jennifer, Lee, and Heather. Patrick is also survived by his uncles Ken, Mike, and Pat and their wives, many cousins, and his former spouse Elizabeth.
Patrick will be greatly missed by his military friends and comrades across the country. Patrick served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 18 years old and was a proud member of the Pacific Fleet Diving Unit in Victoria, BC. Patrick served in Afghanistan under TF 3-09 CIED SON from October 2009 to May 2010; EOD OP LS P Moulden.
Patrick will also be dearly missed by all the people he met in the yoga community, especially the Bikram Yoga family where Patty was a certified instructor after training in Thailand, with thanks to military. He touched so many people's hearts around the world in that community as well.
Patrick was full of life and was a boisterous, outspoken, wonderful human. Those who knew him knew that smile and insatiable laugh. Patrick was as tough as nails but had a heart of gold. He was so loving and caring to those he knew and even to those he did not.
Patrick was a decorated soldier who served his country proudly. Patrick received the Medal of Bravery for his actions in Afghanistan where he helped save the lives of many soldiers due to his decisive, heroic actions.
Visitation for LS Patrick Moulden will be held on Friday, January 6, 2023, at Smith’s Funeral Home, 1167 Guelph Line, Burlington, Ontario, L7P 2S7. Viewing times are as follows: 15:00 to 17:00 (3-5pm) and 19:00 to 21:00 (7-9pm).
Patrick's interment will follow the ceremony at Woodland Cemetery, 700 Spring Gardens Road, Burlington, Ontario, L7T 1J3 in the Field of Honour between 13:00 and 13:30 (1-1:30pm).
Please no flowers.
Donations in honour of Patrick Moulden to The Soldier On Foundation are greatly appreciated. Memorial donations may be made online at www.soldieron.ca, 4210 Labelle Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K2.
What is The Soldier On Foundation?
Soldier On is a program of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) which contributes to the recovery of ill and injured CAF members and veterans by providing opportunities and resources through sport, recreational, and creative activities. Soldier On is recognized for improving the quality of life of the ill and injured and is a highly visible and integral component of the Department of National Defence and the CAF’s commitment to the care of their members. The Soldier On Fund, supported through donations and fundraising, is managed by Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services.
The family would like to thank all those who have reached out with their condolences and also thank the amazing staff at Smith’s Funeral Home and Woodland Cemetery.
A massive thank you to Chief St-Pierre of Patrick’s Pacific Dive Unit and General Wayne Eyre for all of their assistance and support.
Born and raised in Hamilton, Moulden showed interest in competitive swimming at an early age after his mother enrolled him in the Hamilton Aquatic Club. This interest in swimming eventually turned into a career focus with Patrick joining the Navy. During his assignments in the Persian Gulf, he was often selected, because of his swimming skills, to examine the hull of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to make sure no explosives or other illicit materials were being smuggled through.
Over time, searching for explosives yielded to a desire to dismantle them and Patrick received bomb disposal training becoming a Navy Clearance Diver, EOD. While Afghanistan may be a long way from the nearest ocean, Patrick recognized that he was desperately needed there and volunteered his services. Patrick's Mum received emails from Patrick revealing the atrocious anomalies he experienced; however, he said, "Mum, we are saving lives."
Elizabeth said the first improvised explosive device (IED) her son tackled was probably one of his most memorable because he needed a shower afterwards. Patrick called her from Afghanistan. In this incident, she said, Patrick and his support unit were called to an Afghan village where an IED had been found. As they approached the village, the local Taliban became aware of their presence and set off a signal, likely directed at Taliban or Taliban sympathizers in the village. The arriving soldiers found that the ditch containing the IED had been quickly flooded with raw sewage.
Patrick was awarded the Medal of Bravery on April 3rd, 2010, from Governor General Johnston, at Rideau Hall.
Medal of Bravery Awarded on: March 1, 2012 Invested
on: April 20, 2012
On April 3, 2010, Leading Seaman Patrick Moulden risked his life to ensure the safe evacuation of a wounded soldier in Afghanistan. Leading Seaman Moulden and his team responded to an emergency call after an IED critically injured a soldier. When a second device was discovered, Leading Seaman Moulden proceeded to dismantle it by hand before the rest of the counter-IED team arrived. With limited safety equipment at his disposal, Leading Seaman Moulden exposed himself to great danger to ensure that the IED was dismantled in a timely fashion in order to permit the safe landing of a helicopter sent to evacuate his wounded comrade.
Patrick said, when he heard about the medal, he kept thinking about the men who had died in Afghanistan. "They should deserve these, too." But he was excited, nonetheless. He considered it the greatest honour he had ever received: “This is something pretty exceptional. I'm very proud of it."
Sadly, Patrick suffered the ravages of war, the pain and mental anguish of severe PTSD, and the medical discharge from a job that was his life, heart and soul.
Hopefully, Patrick is in a better place, at peace and with ultimate serenity.
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