Almost eight decades after WWII ended, a Nelson family finally had their father and grandfather’s military service recognised with the presentation of his war medals.
Clarence Nilson, known as Clarie, joined the New Zealand Merchant Navy in 1943 at the age of 18 and spent the next two years, four months at sea in support of the country and her allies.
However, upon the end of the war, he was not recognised as being worthy of receiving medals for his service, along with many others.
This was because Able Seaman Clarence Nilsen’s service was titled ‘home service’ meaning he mainly sailed New Zealand coastal waters.
Had he died or been injured during his service, he would have automatically qualified to receive medals.
Clarence’s family says what is not widely known is just how hostile the New Zealand waters were.
“Dad didn’t say very much about what went on in the war, it wasn’t until his last couple of years that I got him to talk about it,” his daughter Trish Nuttall said when receiving one of her father’s medals on Friday night at the Nelson Garrison Club.
“He spoke of seeing a periscope off Stephens Island on one trip, they didn’t know if it was friend or foe, but they had to just keep going,” she said.
Trish said the Merchant Navy ships would sail unescorted, with no protective support, unlike the ships overseas. They carted ammunition, explosives, and supplies up and down the countryside. It was a dangerous task.
She says her father recounted times when an unidentified vessel was in the waters, so his ship was forced to wait outside harbours like Auckland and Wellington, until it was deemed safe to lower the nets, often floating like “sitting ducks”.
She says Clarence also spoke of being looked down on by Kiwis whose family members were overseas during the war.
They didn’t think it was fair that he wasn’t serving his country, while their sons, husbands, and fathers were on the frontlines.
Clarence’s son Jeff says the general feeling of many New Zealand Merchant Navy personnel was that their service was never acknowledged as those in the Navy, Army, and Air Force were.
There were no parades, no war pensions, no cheap housing or loans as the others all had access to.
Clarence was also later denied membership to the Returned Service Association (RSA), as he didn’t leave the country to return.
It’s something his family says Clarence carried with him till his death 12 years ago – he never felt like his service was valued.
Trish, Jeff, and their brother Kevin, first applied for their father’s WWII Military Service Medals about five years ago, but they were declined.
It is an injustice that has taken decades to right, but on Friday Clarence Nilson’s three children were each presented with his medals – the 1939-1945 Star, War Medal 1939-1945, and the New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-1945.
Nelson RSA president Barry Pont also presented the family with an RSA badge and membership card in front of defense personnel, family, and friends.
“I just wish Dad was here to see it,” Trish closed.
“He deserves this as do all the other merchant seamen,” she said. “There are many other merchant navy families out there that know nothing about this.
“We hope that families out there will hear about this and know that they too can go through the process to get the recognition their family member deserves.”
Visit nzdf.mil.nz to see if your family member qualifies.
