Brief Notes on Recipients at New Zealand Operational Service Medal Presentation, Thursday 27 November 2003
1. Flight Lieutenant Cecil William Nevill Wright
Flight Lieutenant Wright (Royal New Zealand Air Force) died in Japan on 20 April 1946. The New Zealand Operational
Service Medal is received on his behalf by his sister Mrs Margaret Anderson of Whangarei.
2. Gunner John Matthew O’Brien
Gunner O’Brien (Royal New Zealand Artillery) died in Japan on 9 August 1946. The New Zealand Operational Service Medal
is received on his behalf by his sister Mrs Kathleen Kennedy of Auckland.
3. Lieutenant Colonel Alan Frederick McCook
Lieutenant Colonel McCook (Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force) died in Japan on 1 January 1947. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his brother Mr Keith McCook of Auckland.
4. Private John Williams
Private Williams (Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force) died in Japan on 22 March 1948. The New Zealand Operational
Service Medal is received on his behalf by his sister Mrs Hoha Hine Pupuri Rangi Sutherland of Paeroa.
5. Gunner Ronald Macdonald
Gunner Macdonald (Royal New Zealand Artillery) was killed in action in Korea on 13 January 1951. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his brother Mr Bernard Macdonald of Putaruru.
6. Gunner Wallace Bruce Dickson
Gunner Dickson (Royal New Zealand Artillery) was killed in action in Korea on 4 October 1951. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his sister Mrs Pam Jamieson of Huntly.
7. Gunner Leslie John Cooper
Gunner Cooper (Royal New Zealand Artillery) was killed in action in Korea on 13 October 1951. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his nephew Mr Ross Nicol of Tauranga.
8. Gunner James Martin Conrad Scahill
Gunner Scahill (Royal New Zealand Artillery) was killed in action in Korea on 18 November 1951. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his niece Mrs Lesley Verity of Te Awamutu.
9. Gunner Thomas Mervyn O’Neil
Gunner O’Neil (Royal New Zealand Artillery) was killed in action in Korea on 13 September 1952. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his sister Mrs Colleen Forgesson of Auckland.
10. Gunner Ray McDonald
Gunner McDonald (Royal New Zealand Artillery) died in Korea on 15 November 1952. The New Zealand Operational Service
Medal is received on his behalf by his nephew Mr Lawton Hakaraia of Auckland.
11. Lieutenant Robert James Unsworth
Lieutenant Unsworth (New Zealand Regiment) died of wounds received in Korea on 12 January 1953. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his sister Mrs Lynette Bell Graham of Taradale.
12. Signalman Dickson Ngatai
Signalman Ngatai (Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals) died in Korea on 28 January 1953. The New Zealand Operational
Service Medal is received on his behalf by his niece Mrs Puharangi Ngatai of Tauranga.
13. Gunner Peter Rex Berry
Gunner Berry (Royal New Zealand Artillery) was killed in action in Korea on 17 February 1953. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his brother Mr Christopher Berry of Whiritoa Beach.
14. Gunner Eric James Griffiths
Gunner Griffiths (Royal New Zealand Artillery) was killed in action in Korea on 17 February 1953. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his sister Mrs Marion Leeney of Auckland.
15. Gunner John McRae
Gunner McRae (Royal New Zealand Artillery) was killed in action in Korea on 3 May 1953. The New Zealand Operational
Service Medal is received on his behalf by his sister Mrs Witarina MacKenzie of Whangamata.
16. Sergeant Edward Michael Noel McLaughlin
Sergeant McLaughlin (Royal New Zealand Artillery) died in Korea on 30 November 1954. The New Zealand Operational Service
Medal is received on his behalf by his son Mr Murray Manson of Greymouth.
17. Able Seaman Thomas Te Hau Taiatini
Able Seaman Taiatini (Royal New Zealand Navy) died in Korea on 23 August 1955. The New Zealand Operational Service Medal
is received on his behalf by his nephew Mr Te Keho Thomas Taiatini of Auckland.
18. Able Seaman Dennis Waitapu
Able Seaman Waitapu (Royal New Zealand Navy) died in Korea on 25 November 1955. The New Zealand Operational Service
Medal is received on his behalf by his sister-in-law Mrs Patricia Waitapu of Auckland.
19. Telegraphist Peter James Mollison
Telegraphist Mollison (Royal New Zealand Navy) died in Korea on 29 October 1957. The New Zealand Operational Service
Medal is received on his behalf by his sister Mrs Judith Corby of Hamilton.
20. Flying Officer William Anthony Devescovi
Flying Officer Devescovi (Royal New Zealand Air Force) died in a Bristol Freighter plane crash while on an operational
mission in Malaya on 10 December 1956. The New Zealand Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his
brother Mr John Devescovi of Blenheim.
21. Private Robert Malcolm Breitmeyer
Private Breitmeyer (the 1st Battalion, New Zealand Regiment) died in Malaya on 16 August 1958. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his cousin Mr Allan Breitmeyer of Rangiora.
22. Lance Corporal Percy Brown (aka Iwihora)
Lance Corporal Brown (aka Iwihora) (the 1st Battalion, New Zealand Regiment) was killed in action in Malaya on 22 August
1958. The New Zealand Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his niece Mrs Sharron Ross of Pukekohe.
23. Sergeant Isaac Leonard King
Sergeant King (Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) died in Malaysia on 18 August 1964. The New Zealand Operational
Service Medal is received on his behalf by his widow Mrs Polly King of Auckland.
24. Flight Lieutenant James William Southgate
Flight Lieutenant Southgate (Royal New Zealand Air Force) died in Malaysia on 30 November 1964. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his mother Mrs Irene Southgate of Auckland.
25. Flying Officer Russell Bennett Thomson
Flying Officer Thomson (Royal New Zealand Air Force) died in Malaysia on 30 November 1964. The New Zealand Operational
Service Medal is received on his behalf by his sister Miss Alison Thomson of Havelock North.
26. Sergeant Richard Edward Fry
Sergeant Fry (Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps) died in Malaysia on 6 June 1965. The New Zealand Operational Service
Medal is received on his behalf by his widow Mrs Elizabeth Dickie of Auckland.
27. Bombardier Robert White
Bombardier White (Royal New Zealand Artillery) was killed in action in Vietnam on 14 September 1965. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his widow Mrs Poko White of Auckland.
28. Charge Sister Lesley Estelle Cowper
Charge Sister Cowper (New Zealand Surgical Team) died in Vietnam on 2 May 1966. The New Zealand Operational Service
Medal is received on her behalf by her great-niece Mrs Lesley Dragovich of Papakura.
29. Captain Peter Williams
Captain Williams (Royal New Zealand Artillery) was killed in action in Vietnam on 14 February 1967. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his widow Mrs Colleen Brooker of Auckland.
30. Private Haere Desmond Hirini
Private Hirini (Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) was killed in action in Vietnam on 1 February 1968. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his brothers Mr Leslie Hirini of Hamilton and Mr Patrick Hirini
of Tauranga.
31. Private John Stewart Williams
Private Williams (Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) was killed in action in Vietnam on 17 June 1969. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his mother Mrs June Williams of North Shore.
32. Private Murray John Turnbull
Private Turnbull (Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) was killed in action in Vietnam on 2 August 1969. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his brother Mr Raymond Turnbull of Dunedin.
33. Private Arthur Vicary Bermingham
Private Bermingham (Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) died of wounds received in Vietnam on 20 November 1969. The New
Zealand Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his brother Mr Bill Bermingham of Auckland.
34. Sapper Jerry Tauri Barrett
Sapper Barrett (Royal New Zealand Engineers) was killed in action in Vietnam on 24 November 1969. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his nephew Mr Maurice Davis of Auckland.
35. Sergeant Gordon Sutherland Watt
Sergeant Watt (Royal New Zealand Air Force) died of wounds received in Vietnam on 1 March 1970. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his widow Mrs Gael Keighley of New Plymouth.
36. Private Te Wamoana Paenga
Private Paenga (Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) was killed in action in Vietnam on 19 March 1970. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his father Mr Ahipene Rangi Paenga of Gisborne.
37. Private David Nelson Wright
Private Wright (Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) died of wounds received in Vietnam on 19 March 1970. The New
Zealand Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his mother Mrs Evelyn Kendall of Auckland.
38. Lieutenant Stanley James Kidd
Lieutenant Kidd (Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) was killed in action in Vietnam on 17 April 1970. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his father Mr Henry Beehre of Waiuku.
39. Private John Louis Gurnick
Private Gurnick (Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) was killed in action in Vietnam on 29 May 1970. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his brother Mr Earl Gurnick of Papatoetoe.
40. Private Thomas Cooper
Private Cooper (Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) died of wounds received in Vietnam on 11 October 1970. The New
Zealand Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his brother Mr Martin Cooper of Auckland.
41. Private Kenneth Horomai Harding
Private Harding (Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) died of wounds received in Vietnam on 24 June 1971. The New
Zealand Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his mother Mrs Annie Harding of Waima and his sister Mrs
Susan Mokaraka of Kaikohe.
42. Mr Malcolm Riding
Mr Riding (New Zealand Red Cross) died in Vietnam on 12 March 1975. The New Zealand Operational Service Medal is
received on his behalf by his brother Mr Jules Riding of Warkworth.
43. Corporal Hoani John Hapeta
Corporal Hapeta (Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) died in Thailand on 13 May 1969. The New Zealand
Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his daughter Mrs Angela Hayden of Tauranga.
44. Warrant Officer Class Two Tony Michael Walser
Warrant Officer Class Two Walser (Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) died in East Timor on 30 November 1999. The New
Zealand Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his father Mr Michael Walser of Pukekohe.
45. Private Leonard William Manning
Private Manning (Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) was killed in action in East Timor on 24 July 2000. The New
Zealand Operational Service Medal is received on his behalf by his parents Mrs Linda Manning and Mr Charlie Manning of
Putaruru.