Honours List

The following is a list of Communicators who have been honoured.

1937 – Ordinary Signalman George Wingham
Coronation Medal – HMS Leander

1937 – CPO Telegraphist William F. Lanyon
Coronation Medal – HMS Leander

1937 – Leading Signalman Peter Petersen
Coronation Medal

1937 – Signalman Bruce R. Laing
Coronation Medal – HMS Leander

1937 – Signalman Ian S. Hunt
Coronation Medal – HMS Leander

1937 – Chief Yeoman of Signals Percy Homas Friedrich
Coronation Medal – HMS Achilles

1937 – Ordinary Signalman David Doole
Coronation Medal – HMS Leander

1937 – Leading Telegraphist Leonard Danford Bewley RNVR
Coronation Medal

1937 – Yeoman of Signals Alan James Alfred Cammell
Coronation Medal

1943 – Signalman Arthur Henry Hansen, MID, H.M.N.Z.S. Kiwi. “For coolness and steadiness under fire while mounting – the 10-inch projector when the vessel in which he was serving was engaged with a Japanese submarine which was sunk as a result of the action.”

1943 – Signalman Floyd Verden Beaver, MID H.M.N.Z.S. Moa. “For coolness and steadiness under fire while serving as a signalman when the vessel in which he was serving was engaged with a Japanese submarine which was sunk as a result of the action, and again when the vessel in which he was serving was engaged with four Japanese barges. Two of the barges were sunk as a result of this action.”

1944 – Telegraphist James Carter Leckie – DSM
RNZNVR Lost in sinking of HMS Neptune 19 Dec 1941

1944 – CPO Yeoman of Signals Lincoln Campbell Martinson – DSM
HMNZS Achilles action at Battle of River Plate

1944 – Ordinary Telegraphist Walter George Thomas Bright RNZNVR – BEM

1944 – Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist William Lewis Brewer – DSM

1944 – Leading Signalman John Lawrence William Salter – BEM
John was also Mentioned in Despatches for saving a shipmate in 1944

1945 – Telegraphist Templeton Niven Witham – DSM
RNZNVR The Governor General has announced that the King has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards to naval personnel serving in the South Pacific area:— D.S.M. — Telegraphist Templeton Niven Witham, R.N.Z.N.
Telegraphist Witham’s award is for courage and good service in the Solomon Islands. He joined the Royal New Zealand Navy on January 5, 1942, and after serving in New Zealand was drafted for special duty in the South Pacific area. He was born on October 23, 1915, in Auckland, and before entry in the Royal New Zealand Navy was a factory hand. His next-of-kin is his wife, Mrs. M. Witham, 58 Darlington Road, Miramar, Wellington.

1945 – Telegraphist Robert Niven Mitchell RNZNVR-
Mention in Despatches – The Minister of Deferice (Mr. Jones) has been advised by the Admiralty that the King has approved of the award of Mention in Dispatches to Robert N. Mitchell, telegraphist, New Zealand, for gallantry, skill, determination, and undaunted devotion to duty during the landing of Allied forces on the coast of Normandy. Telegraphist Mitchell was born at Waiau, North Canterbury, and prior to joining the Royal New Zealand Navy on August 26, 1940, was employed by the New Zealand Railways as a clerical cadet. His next-of-kin is his mother, Mrs. L. J. Mitchell, 59 St Helier Street, Christchurch.

1945 – Ordinary Telegraphist Robert Duncan Cleary –
Mention in Despatches -Advice has been received from the Admiralty that Robert Duncan Cleary, telegraphist, have been mentioned in dispatches for good service in the Aegean.  Telegraphist Cleary joined the Royal New Zealand Navy “for hostilities only,” as an ordinary telegraphist on March 2, 1942. He had previously been employed by the Post and Telegraph Department. He left New Zealand for service with the Royal Navy in September, 1942. His next-of-kin is his father, Mr. George Cleary, Post Office, Otaki Railway Station, Otaki.

1945 – Telegraphist George Edward Carpenter – DSM
The Governor General has announced that the King has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards to naval personnel serving in the South Pacific area:— D.S.M. —  Telegraphist George Edward Carpenter, R.N.Z.N;
Telegraphist Carpenter, whose award is for courage and good service in the Solomon Islands, joined the Royal New Zealand Navy on January 30, 1941, and after serving in New Zealand was drafted for special duty in the South Pacific area. He was born on December 3, 1920, in Christchurch, and before entry in the Royal New Zealand Navy was a cadet in the New Zealand Railways. His next-of-kin is his father, Mr, W. Carpenter, Sunset Parade, Plimmerton.

1945-46 Ordinary Telegraphist Alan Victor Bell
Mentioned in Despatches

1946 – Temporary Leading Signalman Cyril Mills Robinson-
Mentioned in Despatches

1946 – Leading Signalman Reginald Percy Vincent Hayter – BEM

1947 – Petty Officer Telegraphist Albert Charles Arthur Tite – BEM

1948 – Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist William Lewis Brewer –MBE

1950 – CPO Telegraphist A.F.B. Lutman BEM

1952 – CPO Yeoman of Signals John James O’Meara RNZNVR BEM Wellington

1953 – Rear Admiral Lawrence George Carr P3555 – Queens Coronation Medal
General List (Comms), former Chief of Naval Staff

1953 – Commissioned Communications Officer John Fargher
Coronation Medal – HMNZS Black Prince

1953 – CPO Telegraphist Eric Andrew Sorenson BEM

1953 – Queens Birthday – CPO Telegraphist Donald Edgar George Nichols RNZN NZ 11241 – BEM
Services for establishing Radio Branch HMNZS Ngapona

1954 – CPO Telegraphist Reginald Albert Haynes – BEM

1954 – Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist D.G. Bickley
Mentioned in Despatches – HMNZS Hawea

1954 – Petty Officer Telegraphist J.A. Boyland
Mentioned in Despatches HMNZS Rotoiti

1954 Feb – Rear Admiral Lawrence George Carr P3555 – DSC
General List (Comms), former Chief of Naval Staff

1955-  CPO Telegraphist Kenneth Peter Illsley BEM

1956 – CPO Yeoman of Signals Henry Richard Moon BEM

1959 – CPO Telegraphist Geoffrey Roger Drew BEM

1960 – Lieutenant Commander (SD) Edward Herbert Biggs – MBE

1964 – CPO Radio Supervisor Victor John Stuart-St Clair BEM

1964 – Queens Birthday – CPO Radio Supervisor Anthony James Edward Woolford NZV329082 BEM
HMNZS Ngapona (1951-1967)

1966 – CPO Yeoman of Signals Leslie Clifford Thorpe –BEM

1966 – CPO Yeoman of Signals Joseph Eric Rea Collicoat – BEM
RNZNVR

1967 – Chief Visual instructor Lindsay David Glassey – BEM

1968 – Queens Birthday – CPO Radio Instructor James Blackburn NZ14340 – BEM
For Services to RNZN Communications

1969 – New Years Honour – Commander RAN ex RNZN LT Ian Fraser NZ11596 MBE
Commendations as a Liaison Officer for Military VIP’s and Ships

1970 – New Year Honour – CPO Radioman John Nicholas Hewson R13174– BEM

1970- New Year Honour – CPO Visual Instructor Arthur Venus R12573 – BEM
Services to the Navy

1971- New Year Honour – Warrant Officer (ex Signalman WWII) David Ernie Dorset – MBE
for services to the RNZE and for services in Vietnam

1971 – Rear Admiral Lawrence George Carr – CB
General List (Comms), former Chief of Naval Staff

1972 – New Year Honour – Rear Admiral Edward Courtney Thorne J11876 – CBE
General List (Comms), former Chief of Naval Staff

1973 – Warrant Radio Instructor George Patrick Campbell Green MBE

1973 – New Year Honour – WO Radioman Allan Parker NZ17936 – BEM

1975 – CPO Radioman James Drummond RNZNVR BEM

1975-  New Year Honour – CPO Yeoman of Signals Russell Graham Hockley D15390 – BEM

1975 – Queens Birthday – Rear Admiral Edward Courtney Thorne J11876 – CB
General List (Comms), former Chief of Naval Staff

1977  Warrant Officer Yeoman of Signals Robin Bernard Hill – Queen II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977

1977 – Commander Somerford Francis Teagle – Queen II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977

1978 – New Year Honour – CPO Radio Supervisor John Bullock D17069 – BEM
Services to Military Communications

1980 – Leading Signalman Sidney Milner – BEM
Services to Maori Cultural Group

1980 – Queens Birthday – CPO Radio Supervisor Rod Berry Q18736 – BEM
Services to Naval Communications at NAVCOMMSTA Waiouru

1981 – Warrant Officer Radio Supervisor Gary James Johnston – BEM
Services to Malaysian Communications Training

1981 – New Years Honours – Warrant Officer Yeoman of Signals Wiremu Nepia Bartlett – MBE
Services to RNZN Rugby

1982 – CPO Radio Supervisor Christopher Robin Farrow D18242 – BEM

1983 – Queens Birthday – GSH Akuhata Mikarer (Mick) Kereti – BEM
Services to HMNZS Irirangi Administration and Navy Rugby

1983 – Warrant Officer Radio Supervisor Bevan Maurice Lawes – MBE

1984 – Warrant Officer Yeoman of Signals Bernard Hill K13418 – MBE
Lieutenant Noel George Carter – MBE

1986 June – Rear Admiral Tony Parr B23484 – MVO
Services as equerry to HM the Queen

1987 Awarded by CNS – WO Radio Supervisor Jim Dell NZ18186 – MSM
Services to Defence and Naval Communications

1988 New Year Honour – WO Radio Supervisor Paul Murray P19724 – MBE
Contribution to Naval Communications

1992 Queens Birthday – CPO Yeoman of Signals Rex Rodgers C344059 – BEM
Services to the RNZNVR

1993 New Year Honour – CPO Shipping Controller Denis Kean D344934 BEM
ex L/Sig Services to the RNZNVR

1994 Warrant Officer EW Instructor Nicholas Timothy Pritchard – BEM

1994 New Year Honour – CPO Radio Supervisor Peter Stuart Martin W21295 – BEM
Services to Naval Communications and Training

1994 Queens Birthday – Vice Admiral Sir Somerford Teagle K15856 – KBE
General List (Comms), former Chief of Defence Staff

1996 New Year Honour – Commander Frank Rands X18812 – MNZM
ex CPOYS and Services to Combined Communications Electronics Board

1997 New Year Honour – Chief Petty Officer Radio Supervisor Alan Clifford Belcher R20853 MNZM
Services to the Royal New Zealand Navy

1998 New Year Honour – CPO Comms Analyst Thomas Allen J21582 – MNZM

1999 Queens Birthday – WO Comms Analyst Gregory Davis X23090 – MNZM

1999 New Year Honour – PO Radioman Roy Sefton H15394 – QSM

2001 Queens Birthday – Commodore Alan Peck Q18460 – ONZM
AWO (Comms)

2002 New Year Honour – Commander Rex Edwards M18940 – MNZM
ex PO Radio Supervisor

2003 New Year Honour – WO Yeoman of Signals David Ahuriri T22258 – MNZM
For development of the Command Warrant Officer and Personnel Development Board

2004 New Year Honour – Captain Andrew Watts Y23482 – ONZM
PWO (Comms) and Services in Command of HMNZS Te Mana

2007 New Year Honour – LTCDR Barbara Cassin V29045 – MNZM
ex WOTS Services to Public Relations

2009 Mar – LT Michelle Hunt – M29175 – MSM

2009 Queens Birthday – WO Electronic Warfare Specialist Thomas Allen J21582 – DSD

2009 Queens Birthday – WO Master at Arms Shirley Patton F29652 – DSD
Ex LCO For exemplary service whilst onboard HMNZS Te Mana

2012 New Years Honours – Rear Admiral Anthony Jonathan Parr, MVO, of Wellington. ONZM
For services to the State.

2012 Queens Birthday – Dennis Anthony O’Rourke MNZM  Ex PEW of Palmerston North – MNZM
For Services to the Police and Community.

2016 New Years Honours – Chief Petty Officer Communications Warfare Specialist Anthony Nickol – DSD
For services as the Communications Staff Officer for Combined Task Force 151.

2016 Recognition by France – CPO Radio Instructor James Blackburn NZ14340 BEM – Chevalier (Knight) de L’ordre du Legion d’Honeur of France.
For D-Day and the Battle of Normandy Duties.

If you are not on the list or some of the detail is missing then please email webmaster@rnzncomms.org with your details and I will update the record.