THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT
BRIDSON Gordon
Lieutenant Commander, Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve
CITATIONDistinguished Service OrderGazetted 28 May 1943, p2525Lieutenant Commander Gordon BRIDSON, R.N.Z.N.V.R. was Commanding Officer of HMNZS Kiwi which participated in the action against a Japanesesubmarine near Guadalcanal Island on the night of January 29/30 1943. During the engagement the submarine, after being forced to the surfaceby depth charges, was rammed twice and hit several times by gunfire from his ship. The enemy submarine was finally run aground and destroyed.Lieutenant Commander Bridson displayed exceptional tenacity in maintaining close action until the submarine was destroyed.(Extracted from the account in NEW ZEALAND AT WAR by Kenneth Hancock)
Distinguished Service Cross
Gazetted 5 June 1942, p2506
The KING has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of His Majesty's Birthday, to give orders for the Appointments to the Distinguished Service Order, and to approve the Awards shown below, for outstanding zeal, patience and cheerfulness, and for never failing to set an example of wholehearted devotion to duty, without which the high tradition of the Royal Navy could not have been upheld.
Navy Cross (USA)
Gazetted 25 June 1943, p2948
The KING has been graciously pleased to grant unrestricted permission for the wearing of the following decorations bestowed by the President of the United States of America for outstanding services in action against enemy submarines while serving in H.M.N.Z. Ships Kiwi and Moa.
AWARDS
Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Cross
1939-45 Star
Atlantic Star
Pacific Star
War Medal 1939-45
New Zealand War Service Medal
Volunteer Reserve Decoration (VRD)
Navy Cross (USA)
NOTES
Born 2 December 1909, Auckland, New Zealand
Died 6 December 1972, Cambridge, New Zealand
Buried Hautapu Cemetery, Cambridge, New Zealand [Plot - RSA Lawn, B, 3, 39]
