Allan ‘Bill’ Syms joined the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy in 1933 as a Boy 2nd Class. He trained in HMS Philomel before taking a posting in HMS Diomede. Syms then spent two years aboard HMS Dunedin and qualified as an Ordinary Seaman. In 1937 Syms was part of the crew of HMS Leander. The ship participated in the naval review to celebrate the coronation of King George VI at Spithead in 1937. Later he was one of 45 from the ship’s company who took part in the coronation contingent and was invited to Buckingham Palace to receive the Coronation Medal. In 1938 Syms joined the crew of HMS Achilles which returned to the United Kingdom for refit.
At the outbreak of the Second World War Syms was serving in British shore establishments, but was soon posted back to HMS Leander in 1940. Leander was serving in the Indian Ocean and sank the Italian auxiliary cruiser Ramb I in February 1941. Leander was then deployed for operations in the Persian Gulf before joining the Mediterranean Fleet. Leander returned to the Pacific in September 1941. Syms became a member of the Instructing Staff in HMNZS Tamaki in January 1942 achieving the rate of Petty Officer. In November 1943 Syms once again joined Leander (now HMNZS Leander) and travelled to Boston for refit, before being posted to the United Kingdom to recommission HMNZS Achilles. Syms then brought the corvette HMNZS Arabis out to the Pacific before re-joining the crew of Achilles in March 1945, for the final operations of the war in the Pacific. Syms returned to HMNZS Philomel in September 1945. After the war, Syms joined the crew of HMNZS Bellona for a year in 1947. He was discharged in 1948.
This medal was issued to celebrate the Coronation of King George VI in 1937. This silver medal was awarded in large numbers to citizens of the British Commonwealth including New Zealanders, both military and civilian.
