- Bailey Bridges of the Italian Campaign
- Distinguished Soldier Colonel Sir Stephen Allen
- Right Reverend Edward Norman KBE DSO MC
- Father Ted
- Lieutenant Colonel Lizzie ‘Ida’ Grace Willis
- James Alexander McLean Roy, MC and Bar
- John Denvir – Soldier, POW, Partisan Leader
- Decoding Photos
- New Zealand Medal
- Augustus ‘August’ Karl Frederick Koch
- Lieutenant Colonel J W Moodie
- Private George Clampitt
Bailey Bridges of the Italian Campaign
By Liz Mildon, Assistant Curator Heraldry
Between April 9 and April 16 1945 they crossed the Senio, Santerno and Sillaro rivers, and it was during this time that the actions of Driver John Graham Lee would result in him being awarded the United States Bronze Star, an award issued “For heroic or meritorious achievement of service in connection with operations against an opposing armed force”.
Distinguished Soldier Colonel Sir Stephen Allen
Col Sir Allen’s family recently decided to donate his medals following a visit to the Museum’s new Medal Repository by his granddaughter, Rebecca, who was so impressed she recommended to the rest of the family that the National Army Museum should become home for their treasures.
Right Reverend Edward Norman KBE DSO MC
Edward Kinsella Norman was born in Napier in 1916. His theological education at Auckland University was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. He, with so many others, went to war to fight against Hitler’s doctrine.
In January of 1944, Edward was awarded the Military Cross (MC) personally by General Freyberg in the Volturno Valley, Italy. That July, the pious 28 year old also won the DSO (Distinguished Service Order) for the storming and capture of Monte Lignano.
A citation about him states that “It is largely due to his personal leadership that the enemy were defeated”.
Father Ted
Lieutenant Colonel Lizzie ‘Ida’ Grace Willis
by Adam Moriarty, Assistant Curator Heraldry
James Alexander McLean Roy, MC and Bar (1893-1971)
by Adam Moriarty, Assistant Curator Heraldry
John Denvir – Soldier, POW, Partisan Leader
by Adam Moriarty, Assistant Curator Heraldry
John’s story is one full of charm and charcter which we will always remember through his distinct medal group which forms part of a special display in the museum’s new Medal Repository. John Denvir seemed to impress whomever he encountered. He quickly made his way through various ranks for his distinguished actions and natural leadership qualities.
Decoding Photos
The National Army Museum Heraldry collection consists not just of medals and trophies, but also the heraldic items found on uniforms such as rank insignia, cap badges, buttons, service chevrons and unit patches.
Visitors to the museum regularly ask how they can learn more about their ancestor from old photos – these identifying heraldic features can shed some light and open doors to further research.
Wound Badge
When you study your old family portraits you may see a light coloured bar on the lower left sleeve of their uniform, this two inch stripe of gold Russian Braid No. 1 is the distinct insignia of the wound stripe.
New Zealand Medal
The New Zealand Medal was instituted on 1 March 1869 for service in the Colony by both Imperial and Colonial Troops during the New Zealand Wars of 1845-47 and 1861-66. The Colonial soldier had to prove he had faced enemy fire or have performed some distinguished service in order to qualify for the medal, whereas the Imperial soldier was awarded the medal if he had merely served in New Zealand.
Augustus ‘August’ Karl Frederick Koch
In the interest of his health, Koch went to sea and became second officer on an East India trader. Being in Auckland when the Austrian frigate Novarra arrived (1858), he was attached to H Ferdinaud Von Hochstetter’s staff (Franz Julius Von Haast also accompanied Hochstetter), as an artist. He was involved in various expeditions around the Auckland areas and he produced the first large map of Auckland. Most of his drawings are in a museum in Vienna.
After the expeditions, he worked for the Government, surveying and mapping the greater Auckland area. He was also involved in photography and introduced the process of printing from negatives. He then moved to Napier as the first Chief Draughtsman and prepared a large number of maps of the province including the first original plan of Napier. He would later produce lithographed maps of the area and sell them commercially.
Lieutenant Colonel J W Moodie, DSO, ED
Lieutenant Colonel ‘Jack’ Moodie was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his leadership during the Battle of Kapyong in the Korean War. Throughout the battle the 16 Field Regiment supported Australian and Canadian troops and played a vital part in bringing the attack to a standstill. In doing so the regiment suffered its first battle casualty and was awarded a South Korean Presidential Citation in recognition for their resoluteness during the engagement.
Private George Clampitt
2ND BATTALION 18TH (THE ROYAL IRISH) REGIMENT OF FOOT
On the afternoon of the 24th January 1865 near Nukumaru, South Taranaki, Private George Clampitt in company with three other men from the 2nd Battalion, 18th (The Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot and their Company Commander, Captain Hugh Shaw, rescued a wounded comrade, Pte Connolly, whilst under fire from the enemy, Pte Clampitt carried the wounded comrade on his back to safety whilst the others provided covering fire for their withdrawal. For this act Pte Clampitt was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) (PRO WO 32/7369) and Captain Hugh Shaw was awarded the Victoria Cross.
