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Rank:
Acting Leading Stoker
Birth date:
01.09.1920
Birth Place:
Whanganui, New Zealand
Service Number:
NZ4875
Date Joined:
21.05.1942
Date Discharged:
16.10.1945
Death date:
22.07.1985
Place of death:
Auckland, New Zealand

Display No. 15E

TAYLOR, Norman Harry

Norman Taylor joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in May 1942 as a ‘Hostilities Only’ rating (i.e. for the duration of the war). He trained as a Stoker in HMNZ Ships Tamaki and Philomel.

Taylor spent most of his sea time serving in small patrol craft. After training he was posted to the Fairmile motor launch ML400, serving in New Zealand waters. In early 1944 he was posted to ML401 which joined the flotillas of Fairmiles based in the Solomon Islands attached to the shore establishment HMNZS Cook II (renamed HMNZS Kahu). He returned to New Zealand in April 1945 and, after service in Auckland, was posted to the shore establishment HMNZS Cook based in Wellington. Taylor was discharged in October 1945.

The 1939-1945 Star, The Pacific Star, The War Medal 1939-1945, The New Zealand War Service Medal, The New Zealand Efficiency 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.

The New Zealand Efficiency Medal

Awarded to non commissioned personnel of the New Zealand Territorial Force (Army) between 1931 and 2020 who complete twelve years continuous and efficient service. It replaced the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal. Between 1931 and 2020, clasps were awarded for each additional six years efficient service. The ribbon has a wide dark green centre with yellow edges.