 Sanders , a bachelor , died without knowledge of the award of a Distinguished Service Order ( DSO ) for his actions on 12 June 1917 . The emergence of correspondence with his first Q @-@ ship commander , A.D Blair , makes it clear that he at least knew of his VC prior to his death , even if he had not received it . In June 1918 , Sanders ' father received his son 's VC and DSO from the Governor @-@ General of New Zealand . Sander 's VC , the only one awarded to a New Zealander serving in the navy , and DSO is on display at the Auckland War Memorial Museum . 
