Two New Zealand wireless telegraphists, George Carpenter and Templeton Witham, won the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) in the Solomon Islands during the Second World War, but the awards were made for gallantry on land rather than at sea.
George Carpenter DSM NZD 2260 Telegraphist
Two New Zealand wireless telegraphists, George Carpenter and Templeton Witham, won the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) in the Solomon Islands during the Second World War, but the awards were made for gallantry on land rather than at sea. The pair – one from the Royal New Zealand Navy, the other from the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve were amongst 11 New Zealand telegraphists seconded, four at a time, for service with the Royal Australian Navy’s coast watchers from early in 1943 until Mary 1944. All the New Zealanders worked initially at the parent station at Lunga, Guadalcanal, but some went further north for various operations.
Carpenter a continuous service rating, who had joined the New Zealand Navy in 1941, went by canoe from Segi, on the southern coast of New Georgia, to join the coast watching post on Rendova Island before an attack on Japanese positions there. Although the assault was successful, what was left of the enemy garrison retreated inland and stumbled upon the coast watchers’ station. The small force there kept the Japanese at bay for several hours, the signals staff still transmitting messages while under fire. Finally, the Japanese rushed the post, but before the coast watchers retreated Carpenter destroyed the radio by ripping out its crystals. For his actions under fire he was awarded the DSM.
Read more about Coastwatching.