World War II soldier awarded the French legion of honour

World War II soldier awarded the French legion of honour

H.E. Mr Laurent Contini, Ambassador of France to New Zealand, to present Wellingtonian Penwill Moore with the medal of Knight of the national Order of the Legion of Honour.

During a ceremony to be held on Thursday 12 February at the French residence, Mr. Penwill Moore will be made a Knight of the national Order of the Legion of Honour, awarded for eminent merits in service to the nation.

Mr Penwill Moore joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1941 and thereafter travelled to England on board the civil vessel “Dominion Monarch”. Arriving in Liverpool in February 1942, he joined the New Zealand volunteers and British conscripts and undertook a navy course on the HMS Ganges.

He then embarked aboard the British destroyer HMS Malcolm where he was involved in several missions in the Atlantic, in Iceland and in Russia. He also participated in operations in the Mediterranean where the HMS Malcolm was involved in the operation “Torch” in November 1942.

On the 10th of January 1944 he was appointed as navigational officer, responsible for the calibration of navigation instruments (swinging officer) within the Force J Group 2 based at the port of Chichester. Posted to the HMS Sea Serpent operational base, he was the officer responsible for all the navigation instruments of the landing crafts destined for Juno beach and for naval firefighter ships based at Littlehampton.

Having contributed with extraordinary professionalism to the preparation for the Normandy landings, on the 6th of June he embarked aboard the HMS Hilary, along with the J naval force Command team. The professional qualities which he had shown during this time allowed him to once again be selected for an advanced course in the calibration of navigation instruments which he began on the 24th of September 1944. Due to his exceptional professional experience in this domain, he passed his tests with 100% and received the congratulations of the Observatory Commander of the ACO at Ditton Park.

At the end of his training, he joined the HMS Claverhouse pending training of the British Pacific Fleet and his return to New Zealand. The cancellation of this final posting marked the end of Mr Penwill Moore’s military engagement on the 21st of October 1945.

Ambassador H.E. Mr Laurent Contini expresses his delight at officially decorating Mr Penwill: “In 1941, a young Penwill Moore decided to voluntarily engage in a war that was 20 000 kms away from his homeland. One can only praise and admire the commitment and professional qualities he demonstrated when entrusted with great responsibilities in the preparation for the Battle of Normandy. For his bravery and exceptional services throughout his military service, and particularly for the liberation of France within the Allied Forces, it will be with great honour that I present him with the award of Chevalier de l’ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur, France’s highest decoration.”

As part of the commemorations for the 70th anniversary of the battle of Normandy, France has undertaken a campaign of recognition of the veterans who fought in the Second World War as well as the civilians who worked in the shadows to facilitate the liberation.

On June 3rd, the President of the French Republic, Mr François Hollande officially appointed as Knight of the national Order of the Legion of Honour Sector Officer Phyllis Latour Doyle, Major Alan Davis, first-class ship-of-the-line ensign Penwill Moore, Captain Hugh Findlater, ship-of-the-line Lieutenant Neil Harton and Quartermaster Roger MacLean.

All six of the veterans have been recognised as having played a significant part in the battle of Normandy and the liberation of France alongside the Allied Forces.

ends

© Scoop Media