Lincoln Tempero joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1953 as a cadet. He trained at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth before becoming a gunnery officer and serving at sea.
Tempero served in HMNZS Pukaki as a Lieutenant when it was deployed to observe the last six nuclear weapons tests of Operation Grapple. During the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation he commanded the minesweeper HMNZS Santon based in Singapore. He then went on to command the frigates HMNZ Ships Taranaki and Canterbury. From 1979 to 1983 he served overseas as part of the New Zealand Defence Liaison Staff in Washington and London. He was then made Commodore Auckland before being promoted to Rear Admiral and was appointed Chief of Naval Staff in 1986.
Tempero died suddenly in May 1987, being the first Chief of Naval Staff to die in office. He had a full military funeral at St Christopher’s Chapel, HMNZS Philomel, and was buried at sea from the frigate HMNZS Wellington. He was posthumously created a Commander of the Order of the Bath.
British order of chivalry with three classes of members: Knight and Dame Grand Cross (GCB), Knight and Dame Commander (KCB and DCB) and Companion (CB). It was awarded to military personnel during both World Wars. Recipients of the order are usually senior military officers or senior civil servants. The ribbon is crimson red.
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.
A commemorative medal created in 1977 to mark the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
A long service decoration for Regular Force Officers of the New Zealand Defence Force. Established in 1985, it was originally presented for 15 years of unblemished service. In August 2020 the criteria was modified to be awarded for 14 years service. The medal ribbon colours of dark blue, crimson and light blue represent the three Services (Navy, Army and Air Force) with a black central stripe symbolising New Zealand. The ribbon of the award was designed by Mr Phillip O’Shea, New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary.
