Pukekohe Boy Awarded the D.S.M.

Franklin Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 22, 26 February 1940, Page 4

Pukekohe Boy Awarded the D.S.M.

BRAVERY IN BATTLE ORDINARY SEAMAN I. T. L. RODGERS A RATING ON H.M.S. ACHILLES A Pukekohe boy, Ivan Thomas Leslie Rodgers, a rating on H.M.S. Achilles, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for gallantry during the Battle of the River Plate, when the three British light cruisers, Exeter, Ajax and Achilles, engaged the German pocket battleship, the Admiral Graf Spee. Ordinary Seaman Rodgers is the second son of Mr and Mrs G. M. Rodgers, Victoria Street, Pukekohe, and is J 8 years of age. He was born at Hamilton and commenced his education at Mangere East School, continuing it at the Patumahoe school. Coming to Pukekohe with his parents seven years ago, Ordinary Seaman Rodgers a 1 tended the Pukekohe Technical High School for two years, later accepting a position with Messrs Cooper and Curd, Limited, by whom he was employed when lie was accepted for the Royal Navy three years ago. He received his first year’s training on H.M.S. Philomel, and was transferred to H.M.S. Achilles two years ago.

Honoured for Gallantry Under Fire

At the start of the Battle of the River Plate, Ordinary Seaman Rodgers, as he stated in his account of the battle published in the Times oil Wednesday last, did not have a battle station, but stood by in the direction tower in case of emergency. The emergency arrived soon after the start ol hostilities for the range finder in the director was killed by shrapnel from a shell which burst near the budge and entered the direction tower leaving a gaping hole. Ordinary Seaman Rodgers took his mate’s place as range-finder and as there was little room in which to work lie picked up his dead comrade and lay him across his knee for the rest of the action. He received his decoration for carrying on under shell fire in an exposed position.

Ordinary Seaman Rodgers is well known in Pukekohe. His many friends join in congratulating him on being decorated for gallantry. He is the first Pukekohe boy serving in the forces in this war to have been decorated.

He spent the week-end with bis parents in Pukekohe, returning to the Achilles today.