Ivan Alderton joined the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in 1936. He completed his training in HM Ships Philomel and Achilles.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Alderton was still serving in Achilles when the ship was called to patrol the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts of South America for German vessels. Achilles was subsequently involved in the Battle of the River Plate on 13 December, 1939. In June 1940 Alderton began further training in seamanship in the shore establishment HMAS Cerberus near Melbourne, Australia. For the next two years he again served in Achilles in the Pacific. In November 1942 Alderton was posted back to New Zealand waters, serving on the minesweeper HMNZS Wakakura. He was then sent to HMNZS Tamaki, the training establishment on Motuihe Island, as an instructor. From December 1944 until the end of the war, Alderton served in HMNZS Gambia which operated with the British Pacific Fleet in the North Pacific and was present at Tokyo Bay for the signing of the Japanese surrender on 2 September, 1945.
After the war he continued to serve in Gambia until the ship was decommissioned from New Zealand service and returned to Britain. He was part of the commissioning crew that brought HMNZS Bellona to New Zealand in 1947. He continued to serve ashore with the RNZN for several years in HMNZ Ships Philomel and Tamaki. He had one final posting at sea in HMNZS Rotoiti which conducted patrols of the South-West Pacific. He took his discharge from the RNZN in July 1950.
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 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 1939-45 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 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.
