Gordon Bridson

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Gordon Bridson, Lieutenant Commander (DC), Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the HMNZS KIWI, during an engagement with a Japanese submarine at Kamimbo, near Guadalcanal, on 29 and 30 January 1943. Immediately upon making contact with the enemy vessel, Lieutenant Commander Bridson launched a determined depth charge attack, forcing the submarine to the surface. He scored several hits with gunfire and twice during this engagement rammed the enemy ship. Lieutenant Commander Peter Phipps, commander of HMNZS MOA then held the vessel under gunfire until he had driven it back to the beach. The actions of Lieutenant Commander Bridson contributed directly to the ultimate destruction of the enemy submarine. Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 314 (May 1943) Born: December 2, 1909, at Auckland, New Zealand Home Town: Wellington, New Zealand