Rank:
Leading Seaman
Service Number:
NZD1291
Date Joined:
27.09.1934
Date Discharged:
Died on active service
Death date:
23.02.1942
Place of death:
Suva, Viti Levu, Fiji
Display No. 9E
POTTER, Ronald Allen
Ronald Potter joined the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy in September 1934 as a Boy 2nd Class. He trained in the shore establishment HMS Philomel. In 1935 Potter was serving in HMS Diomede when the ship was posted to Aden in response to the Abyssinian Crisis. In 1936 he joined HMS Achilles when the ship came to relieve Diomede.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Potter was still serving in Achilles which was then called to patrol the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts of South America for German vessels and was subsequently involved in the Battle of the River Plate on 13 December 1939. After this battle, Potter returned briefly to New Zealand before serving in HMAS Cerberus near Melbourne. In March 1941 he was posted back to Achilles which was involved in patrolling New Zealand waters and escorting convoys in the South Pacific. Potter was discharged dead in February 1942 as a Leading Seaman after being admitted to a military hospital in Fiji whilst serving in HMNZS Achilles.
The 1939-1945 Star, The Pacific Star, The War Medal 1939-1945, The New Zealand War Service Medal
Awarded medal(s)
Medal Description [Left to Right]:
The 1939-1945 Star
The 1939-45 Star is the first in a series of eight campaign stars instituted in 1945 to recognise service in World War Two. The ribbon has three equal vertical stripes of dark blue, red and light blue. The dark blue stripe symbolises the service of the Navy and the Merchant Navy, the red stripe symbolises the service of the Army, and the light blue stripe symbolises the service of the Air Force. The equal width bands represent the equal contributions of the three service arms towards victory. The ribbon was devised by King George VI. Two clasps could be awarded with this medal: ‘Battle of Britain’ and ‘Bomber Command’. Only aircrew would qualify for these clasps although a small number of Fleet Air Arm naval pilots flew for the air force and would be eligible for the ‘Battle of Britain’ clasp.
The Pacific Star
The Pacific Star was awarded in the Second World War for operational service in the Pacific between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. This medal was also awarded for certain specified service in China, Hong Kong, Malaya and Sumatra: between 8 December 1941 and 25 December 1941 (for Hong Kong); between 8 December 1941 and 15 February 1942 (for China and Malaya); and between 8 December 1941 and 23 March 1942 (for Sumatra). The centre of the ribbon is dark green (symbolising the jungle) with a central yellow stripe (symbolising the beaches). On the outer edges are wide stripes of red (representing the Army), with narrow stripes of dark blue and light blue (representing the Navy and Air Force) between the stripes of dark green and red. A ‘Burma’ clasp could be awarded with this medal. Personnel qualifying for both the Pacific and Burma Stars were awarded the first star but only a clasp in respect of the second.
The War Medal 1939-1945
The War Medal 1939-45 was awarded across the British Commonwealth to all full-time members of the Armed Forces in the Second World War for 28 days service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945, irrespective of where they were serving. The ribbon is the red, white, and blue of the (British) Union Flag. There is a narrow central red stripe with a narrow white stripe on either side. There are broad red stripes at either edge, the two intervening stripes being blue.
A bronze oak leaf on the medal ribbon denotes that the recipient was Mentioned in Despatches. To be Mentioned in Despatches a member of the armed forces had their name mentioned in an official report, written by a superior officer, and sent to a higher command. The report would describe the individual’s gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.
The New Zealand War Service Medal
The New Zealand War Service Medal was awarded for 28 days’ full time service or six months’ part time service in the Second World War in any of the New Zealand Armed Forces including the Reserves, Naval Auxiliary Patrol Service, or Home Guard, between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.