1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Pacific Star, British War Medal 1939-45, NZ War Service Medal, Distinguished Service Cross and Bar, KBE (Order of Knighthood), United States Navy Cross, Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal, Volunteer Reserve Decoration GVIR.
Vice Admiral Sir (Peter) Phipps joined the Canterbury Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as an Ordinary Seaman in 1928. Following the outbreak of WW2, he commanded HMS BAY on convoy duty in the English Channel for which he was awarded a DSC (Distinguished Service Cross).
Phipps was in command of HMNZS MOA when, in 1943, along with HMNZS KIWI off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, it attacked and destroyed a Japanese submarine. Phipps was awarded the US Navy Cross, and a bar to his DSC in recognition. He was wounded when HMNZS MOA was sunk during a bombing attack off Tulagi Harbour a few months later. He then represented the NZ Government at the surrender of the Japanese forces in Nauru and Ocean Island.
Phipps’ later career was a series of firsts for a New Zealander – he was the first NZ naval officer appointed to the NZ Naval Board (1957), the first to reach the rank of Admiral (eventually reaching Rear-Admiral), the first to be appointed to Chief of Naval Staff (1960) and the first Chief of Defence Staff (1963), following the establishment of the Ministry of Defence. Phipps was knighted for his services in 1964. He died on 18 September 1989.