Ref.no. 2023.19.28 Image may be subject to copyright restrictions
Rank:
Able Seaman
Post nominals:
DSM
Birth date:
07.07.1947
Service Number:
NZ 17786
Date Joined:
27.05.1963
Date Discharged:
30.01.1970
Display No. 19C
TAYLOR, Charles Kenneth
Charles ‘Ken’ Taylor joined the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), aged 15, as a Junior Seaman in 1963. He served at sea onboard HMNZ Ships Rotoiti and Pukaki before being posted to the minesweeper HMNZS Hickleton in November 1965 as a Gunner’s Yeoman. Hickleton was part of the Royal Navy’s 11th Minesweeping Squadron during the Indonesian Confrontation, patrolling the waters around Borneo and the Singapore and Malacca Straits.
On 28 June 1966, Hickleton was involved in hostile action when she intercepted a sampan of uniformed men near Singapore. Taylor, only 18 years of age at the time, played a significant role during the incident and was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) for “his courageous, cool and controlled action in the face of enemy fire”. This was the last DSM awarded to a New Zealander and Hickleton’s action was the last time an RNZN vessel fired its guns in anger.
Taylor remained with the RNZN until 1970. He served aboard HMNZ Ships Kahawai, Kiama, Inverell and Maoro which were mostly involved in fisheries protection work in New Zealand waters, as well as training, search and rescue, and guard boat duty.
Awarded medal(s)
The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) was instituted in 1914 for senior and junior ratings of the Navy. It was awarded for acts of bravery in the face of the enemy for which the award of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal was not considered appropriate. It was replaced in 1999 by the New Zealand Gallantry Decoration. The ribbon has three equal stripes: dark blue, white and dark blue with a thin dark blue stripe down the centre of the white stripe.
The New Zealand Operational Service Medal
The New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM) was instituted in 2002 to recognise New Zealanders (military and civilians) who have served since the end of the Second World War. The NZOSM provides recognition for those who have earned a campaign medal or completed 7 days or more of operational service since 3 September 1945. It is awarded once only to an individual, regardless of how many times he or she has deployed on operations. The medal features the New Zealand Coat of Arms on the obverse and a kiwi on the reverse. The ribbon is black and white stripes, representative of New Zealand’s national colours.
The General Service Medal 1962
The General Service Medal 1962 was instituted in 1964 (replacing both the Naval General Service Medal 1915-1962 and General Service Medal 1918-1962) to recognise service in minor operations for which no separate medal was intended. This medal was always awarded with a clasp for the specific area of operation. A total of 14 clasps have been issued but only two have been awarded to New Zealanders in significant numbers. These are the ‘Borneo’ and ‘Malaya Peninsula’ clasps awarded for service related to the Indonesian Confrontation of the 1960s.
New Zealand Defence Service Medal
The New Zealand Defence Service Medal (NZDSM) was instituted in April 2011 to recognise military service since the end of the Second World War. One or more of four clasps can be awarded with the medal determined by military service undertaken: Regular, Territorial, C.M.T. (Compulsory Military Training) and National Service.
Eligibility is three years of service in either the Regular or Territorial (Reserve) Forces of the New Zealand Defence Force (Navy, Army, Airforce), or those who undertook Compulsory Military Training (under the Military Training Act 1949) or National Service (under the National Military Service Act 1962).
The medal itself has the New Zealand fern frond and the badge of the New Zealand Defence Force which combines the emblems of the (Navy, Army and Air Force). The ribbon colours also represent the three services: Navy (dark blue), Army (red) and Air Force (light blue).
Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal
This Malaysian medal was instituted by the King of Malaysia for award to British Commonwealth personnel who served during the Malayan Emergency and the Confrontation, 1948-60. The ribbon has five vertical stripes in the colours of the Malaysian national flag.