FRETWELL, Jack

Display Number:  0406   
Name:  Fretwell  Jack
Rank:  Chief Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic Service Number:  C/KX94904 (Royal Navy), K13717 (Royal New Zealand Navy)
Date Joined:  30th August 1938 (Royal Navy),     15th September 1951 (Royal New              Zealand Navy) Date Discharged:  14th September 1961 (Royal New Zealand Navy)

Jack Fretwell joined the Royal Navy in 1938, serving in the battleship HMS Malaya and in submarines. He transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy as a Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic in 1951. He served on a number of Royal New Zealand Navy Ships, including a combat deployment to Korean waters on the frigate HMNZS Hawea. Some of the other ships he served in were HMNZS' Kaniere, Kiwi (I), Bellona, Black Prince and Royalist, as well as the shore base HMNZS Philomel.

 
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Medal Description (Top Left to Bottom Right (Going across, top two rows only)):  
  •  1939-1945 Star - Recognises service in the Second World War. It was usually awarded for six months service in special operational areas. Those whose service was shortened by death, injury or capture or who were awarded a decoration or mentioned in despatches also qualified for the medal. Those who served a day or more in specified battles or invasions also qualified for this award. The ribbon has three equal vertical stripes of dark blue (symbolising Navy and Merchant Navy), red (symbolising Army) and light blue (representing Air Force).
  • Atlantic Star - Awarded to personnel who served an additional 6 months in Home (United Kingdom), Atlantic or North Russian waters after first qualifying for the 1939-45 Star. The ribbon is water silk coloured blue, white and green. These colours symbolise service in the Atlantic Ocean, and in UK and North Russian waters.
  • Africa Star - Awarded for service in North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943. The ribbon is pale buff in colour with a central vertical red stripe and narrower stripes, one dark blue and one light blue. The pale buff background symbolises the desert, the red stripe symbolises the Army, the dark blue stripe symbolises the Navy and Merchant Navy, while the light blue stripe symbolises the Air Force. New Zealand soldiers who were captured or killed in Greece or Crete in 1941 had qualified for this star before entering Greece. This was because they were based in Egypt on or after 10 June 1940, before being sent to Greece.
  • Pacific Star - The Pacific Star was awarded for operational service in the Pacific between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.It was also awarded for certain specified service in China and Malaya (8 December 1941 - 15 February 1942), Hong Kong (8 December 1941 - 25 December 1941) and Sumatra (8 December 1941- 23 March 1942). The Green stripes on the ribbon symbolise the jungle while the central yellow stripe symbolises the beach. The outer red stripes symbolise the Army while the dark blue stripe symbolises the Navy and Merchant Navy and the light blue stripe symbolises the Air Force.
  • War Medal - Awarded across the British Commonwealth to all fulltime members of the Armed Force for 28 days service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945 irrespective of where they were serving. On one side is an effigy of King George VI. On the reverse is a lion trampling on a dragon symbolising the Axis powers. The ribbon is the red, white and blue of the (British) Union Flag.
  • The Korea Medal - Instituted in 1951 to recognise service in the Korean War. It was awarded to all British Commonwealth forces who took part in the war between 2 July 1950 and 27 July 1953.
  • United Nations Medal (Korea) - Awarded for service during the Korean War (1 July 1950 to 27 July 1953) and for service in the first twelve months following the Armistice. It was manufactured in the language of each country that participated in the United Nations force in Korea. The ribbon is a blue background with a series of white stripes across its width. These are the basic colours of the United Nations.
  • Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal 1954 onward - Originally awarded for 21 years exemplary conduct, but the period was reduced to 10 years in 1874, then later increased to 15 years. In March 1981 commissioned officers became eligible after 15 years service, provided at least twelve of those were served in the ranks.
  • 1939-1945 Star (Minature) - Minature version of the 1939-1945 Star. Recognises service in the Second World War. It was usually awarded for six months service in special operational areas. Those whose service was shortened by death, injury or capture or who were awarded a decoration or mentioned in despatches also qualified for the medal. Those who served a day or more in specified battles or invasions also qualified for this award. The ribbon has three equal vertical stripes of dark blue (symbolising Navy and Merchant Navy), red (symbolising Army) and light blue (representing Air Force).
  • Atlantic Star (Miniature) - Miniature version of the Atlantic Star. Awarded to personnel who served an additional 6 months in Home (United Kingdom), Atlantic or North Russian waters after first qualifying for the 1939-45 Star. The ribbon is water silk coloured blue, white and green. These colours symbolise service in the Atlantic Ocean, and in UK and North Russian waters.
  • Africa Star (Miniature) - Miniature version of the Africa Star. Awarded for service in North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943. The ribbon is pale buff in colour with a central vertical red stripe and narrower stripes, one dark blue and one light blue. The pale buff background symbolises the desert, the red stripe symbolises the Army, the dark blue stripe symbolises the Navy and Merchant Navy, while the light blue stripe symbolises the Air Force. New Zealand soldiers who were captured or killed in Greece or Crete in 1941 had qualified for this star before entering Greece. This was because they were based in Egypt on or after 10 June 1940, before being sent to Greece.
  • Pacific Star (Miniature) - Miniature version of the Pacific Star. The Pacific Star was awarded for operational service in the Pacific between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.It was also awarded for certain specified service in China and Malaya (8 December 1941 - 15 February 1942), Hong Kong (8 December 1941 - 25 December 1941) and Sumatra (8 December 1941- 23 March 1942). The Green stripes on the ribbon symbolise the jungle while the central yellow stripe symbolises the beach. The outer red stripes symbolise the Army while the dark blue stripe symbolises the Navy and Merchant Navy and the light blue stripe symbolises the Air Force.
  • War Medal (Miniature) - Miniature version of the War Medal. Awarded across the British Commonwealth to all fulltime members of the Armed Force for 28 days service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945 irrespective of where they were serving. On one side is an effigy of King George VI. On the reverse is a lion trampling on a dragon symbolising the Axis powers. The ribbon is the red, white and blue of the (British) Union Flag.
  • Naval General Service Medal 1915-1962 (Yangtze 1949 Clasp) (Miniature) - Miniature version of the Naval General Service Medal issued between 1915 and 1962 with the clasp 'Yangtze 1949' clasp. It was instituted to recognise service in minor naval operations for which no seperate medal was intended. 
  • The Korea Medal (Miniature) - Miniature version of the Korea Medal that was instituted in 1951 to recognise service in the Korean War. It was awarded to all British Commonwealth forces who took part in the war between 2 July 1950 and 27 July 1953.
  • United Nations Medal (Korea) (Miniature) - Miniature version of the United Nations Medal (Korea), and is awarded for service during the Korean War (1 July 1950 to 27 July 1953) and for service in the first twelve months following the Armistice. It was manufactured in the language of each country that participated in the United Nations force in Korea. The ribbon is a blue background with a series of white stripes across its width. These are the basic colours of the United Nations.
  • Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal 1954 onward (Miniature) - Miniature version of the Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal issued from 1954 onward. It was originally awarded for 21 years exemplary conduct, but the period was reduced to 10 years in 1874, then later increased to 15 years. In March 1981 commissioned officers became eligible after 15 years service, provided at least twelve of those were served in the ranks.

Note: The other medals shown were sports badges awarded to Chief Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic Jack Fretwell