CARR, Lawrence George "Laurie", CB, DSC

Display Number:  1106  
Name:  Carr  Lawrence (Laurie) George
Rank:  Rear Admiral Service Number:  
Date Joined:  1943 Date Discharged:  August 1973

Carr had a distinguished career in the Royal New Zealand Navy, seeking active service in European waters during the Second World War, and the Korean War, where he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by the British Government. He commanded two frigates; HMNZS' Kaniere and Taranaki, two shore installations; HMNZS' Irirangi and Philomel, before reaching flag rank, serving as Commodore Auckland, the New Zealand Naval Board, before his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff. For his service as Chief of Naval Staff he was created a Commander of the Order of the Bath by the New Zealand Government.

 
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Medal Description (Top Left to Bottom Right (Going across)):  
  • Distinguished Service Cross - Awarded to junior naval officers and senior naval ratings for courage and devotion to duty on active service.
  • 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 (France and Germany Clasp) - 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. Those awarded with both the Atlantic Star and the France and Germany Star were awarded the first star they qualified for, with a clasp in respect of the second star. The France and Germany clasp/star is awarded for service in France, Belgium the Netherlands, Germany or adjacent sea areas between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945. 
  • Italy Star - Awarded for operational service in Italy and adjacent countries between 11 June 1943 and 8 May 1945. The ribbon has 5 equal stripes of green, white and red, the national colours of Italy.
  • The Defence Medal - Awarded to British military and civilian personnel for a range of service in the United Kingdom, and to British, British Commonwealth and British Colonial personnel who served outside their home countries in a non-operational area or in an area subject to threat such as air attack. The centre of the ribbon is flame coloured, and the edges are green, symbols of the enemy attacks on Great Britain. Two black stripes represent the blackout in Great Britain.
  • 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.
  • New Zealand War Service Medal - Awarded for 28 days' full time service or six months' part time service in any of the New Zealand Armed Forces, the New Zealand National Military Reserve or the Home Guard between 3 September  1939 and 2 September 1945. Eligible part time Home Guard Personnel must have completed their six months' part time service between 16 August 1940 and 1 January 1944 (the Home Guard was disbanded in December 1943). It was the first distinctively 'New Zealand' war service medal, which was emphasised by the use of the fern leaf motif on the suspender and the reverse of the medallion, and the national colours of black and white on the ribbon.
  • Naval General Service Medal 1915-1962 (Palestine Clasp) - Instituted to recognise service in minor naval operations for which no seperate medal was intended.
  • 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.
  • The Coronation Medal 1953 - Issued to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and was awarded to both military and civilian citizens of the British Commonwealth.
  • The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (Knights Commander) 
  • Distinguished Service Cross (Miniature) - Miniature version of the Distinguished Service Cross. Awarded to junior naval officers and senior naval ratings for courage and devotion to duty on active service.
  • 1939-1945 Star (Miniature) - Miniature 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 (France and Germany Clasp) (Miniature) - Miniature version of the Atlantic Star with a France and Germany Clasp. 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. Those awarded with both the Atlantic Star and the France and Germany Star were awarded the first star they qualified for, with a clasp in respect of the second star. The France and Germany clasp/star is awarded for service in France, Belgium the Netherlands, Germany or adjacent sea areas between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945. 
  • Italy Star (Miniature) - Miniature version of the Italy Star. Awarded for operational service in Italy and adjacent countries between 11 June 1943 and 8 May 1945. The ribbon has 5 equal stripes of green, white and red, the national colours of Italy.
  • The Defence Medal (Miniature) - Miniature version of the Defence Medal. Awarded to British military and civilian personnel for a range of service in the United Kingdom, and to British, British Commonwealth and British Colonial personnel who served outside their home countries in a non-operational area or in an area subject to threat such as air attack. The centre of the ribbon is flame coloured, and the edges are green, symbols of the enemy attacks on Great Britain. Two black stripes represent the blackout in Great Britain.
  • 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.
  • New Zealand War Service Medal (Miniature) - Miniature version of the New Zealand War Service Medal. Awarded for 28 days' full time service or six months' part time service in any of the New Zealand Armed Forces, the New Zealand National Military Reserve or the Home Guard between 3 September  1939 and 2 September 1945. Eligible part time Home Guard Personnel must have completed their six months' part time service between 16 August 1940 and 1 January 1944 (the Home Guard was disbanded in December 1943). It was the first distinctively 'New Zealand' war service medal, which was emphasised by the use of the fern leaf motif on the suspender and the reverse of the medallion, and the national colours of black and white on the ribbon.
  • Naval General Service Medal 1915-1962 (Palestine Clasp) (Miniature) - Miniature version of the Naval General Service Medal issued between 1915 and 1962. 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. 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). 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.
  • The Coronation Medal 1953 (Miniature) - Miniature version of the Coronation Medal 1953. It was issued to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and was awarded to both military and civilian citizens of the British Commonwealth.