William Job Wain
William was born in 1903 and joined the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy on September 5, 1922 with the service number NZD477. He served in the cruisers Chatham, Diomede, Achilles and Gambia. He also spent time in the Royal Navy on exchange. For his actions in Achilles during the Battle of the River Plate in 1939, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM). One of the crew of HMS Achilles said of him "an inspiration and help to them all" and that "He steamed this boiler room with the highest efficiency, using great initiative in setting and adjusting the sprayers to obtain the best flame and a minimum of smoke."
For his service he was also awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Atlantic Star, Pacific Star (Burma Clasp), War Medal, New Zealand War Service Medal, Silver Jubilee Medal 1935, and the Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal 1931-1936. William left the navy on September 3, 1945. He passed away in 1960.