Tom Logan (water polo)

Born in 1927, Logan was educated at New Plymouth Boys' High School, where he was head boy and captained the 1st XV rugby team.^[1] He then studied at the University of Otago, graduating with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 1951.^[2]

Joining the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1952 with the rank of surgeon lieutenant, Logan initially served as the dentist in HMNZS Tamaki, the naval training base on Motuihe Island.^[3][4] He then saw service in the Korean War, on HMNZS Kaniere and HMNZS Hawea, as well as on the front line while on secondment to the New Zealand Army. Subsequently, he served ashore as well as on HMNZS Black Prince and HMNZS Royalist.^[3]

In 1960 he was promoted to surgeon lieutenant-commander,^[5] and the following year he was sent to the United Kingdom to study oral surgery,^[3] gaining a Higher Dental Diploma from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.^[6] Following his return to New Zealand, Logan served the remainder of his naval career ashore in HMNZS Philomel, apart from a short posting as part of the mobile dental unit on the Antarctic support ship HMNZS Endeavour.^[3]

In the 1965 New Year Honours Logan was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire,^[7] and the following year he was promoted to the rank of surgeon commander.^[6] He became director of defence dental services in 1969,^[3] and in 1976 he was appointed honorary dental surgeon to Queen Elizabeth II.^[1] Logan retired as a surgeon captain in 1977, the first dentist to reach that rank in the Royal New Zealand Navy.^[1] Also in 1977, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.^[8]