THEY WERE AND STILL ARE OUR INSPIRATION

The Victoria Cross is the premier award for gallantry. It was instituted in 1856. The Victoria Cross for New Zealand was instituted in 1999 and is identical. It is awarded for ‘most conspicuous gallantry, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour, self sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy or of belligerents.’

Since 1901 21 (British) Victoria Crosses and one bar have been awarded to New Zealanders. Of these, 10 were holding the rank of Senior NCO at the time the award was made. We will not forget them. They have been an inspiration to all Senior NCOs of the armed forces of New Zealand since that time.

Recipients of the Victoria Cross are held in high esteem and research is ongoing into their acts of valour and family histories. Both professional and amateur historians have contributed immensely to the study of the Victoria Cross and its New Zealand Armed forces Recipients down through the years.

Since the Boer War NZ Servicemen have won 22 Victoria Crosses, one of course was the bar to the VC awarded to Capt Charles Upham for two separate acts of heroism and bravery. There has also been a number of other Officers and men including corporals and Privates that have been recognised for valour, and have been awarded the VC as a result.

The latest award and the first New Zealand Victoria Cross recipient, was Cpl Willie Apiata, SAS, awarded for valour in Afghanistan, 

Ten of the recipients were Senior NCOs or Warrant Officers at the time their award was made. The following information is a brief history of these 10 awards

Boer War

The first New Zealand born man to win the Victoria Cross was --

Farrier Sergeant Major William James Hardham VC.

The Citation reads: On January 28^th 1901, near Naauwpoort, this non Commissioned Officer was with a Section, which was extended and hotly engaged with a party of about 20 Boers. Just before the force began to retire, Trooper McCrae was wounded and his horse killed. Farrier Sergeant Major Hardham at once went, under heavy fire, to his assistance, dismounted and placed him on his own horse and ran alongside until he had guided him to a place of safety.

World War 1

Sergeant Donald Forrester Brown VC.

The Citation reads: On 15 September 1916 south-east of High Wood, France, when his company had suffered heavy casualties from machine-gun fire, Sergeant Brown, with another man, advanced to a point within 30 yards of an enemy gun, killing four of the crew and capturing the gun. When the advance of the company was again held up, Sergeant Brown and his comrade rushed another gun and killed the crew. On a third occasion the Sgt attacked single-handed a machine-gun, killed the crew and captured the gun.

Sergeant Richard Charles Travis VC. DCM. Croix de Guerre. MM. 

The Citation reads: He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross “for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty” in destroying an impassable obstacle, capturing two enemy machine-gun posts and shooting down 11 enemy soldiers on 24 July 1918. Travis was killed by shellfire on 25 July 1918, and was buried in Couin, France

Sergeant Samuel Forsyth VC.  

The Citation reads:  On 24 August 1918, through Sgt. Forsyth’s leadership and total disregard for danger, three machine-gun positions were rushed and the crews taken prisoner before they could inflict many casualties on our troops. During the subsequent advance his company came under heavy fire from several machine-guns. Sgt Forsyth was wounded. He then led his men with magnificent coolness to a favourable position. During this action the gallant NCO was killed by a sniper.

Sergeant Gildroy Grant VC.   

The Citation reads: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near Bancourt in France on 1 September 1918, Sergeant Grant, in charge of a Platoon attacking the high ground to the East, on reaching the crest, it was found that a line of five enemy machine-gun posts offered a serious obstacle to further advance. Advancing under point blank fire to about 20 yards, Sergeant Grant followed by a comrade, rushed forward ahead of his Platoon and with great dash and bravery entered the centre post, demoralising the garrison. In the same manner he then rushed the Post on the left and the remaining Posts were quickly occupied. This Sergeant displayed coolness, determination and valour of the highest order and set a splendid example to all.

Sergeant Reginald Stanley Judson VC. DCM. MM.   

The Citation reads:  On the 26 August 1918 Sergeant Judson led a small bombing party under heavy fire and captured an enemy machine-gun. He then proceeded up the sap alone, bombing three machine-gun crews. Jumping out of the trench he then ran ahead of the enemy and, standing on a parapet, ordered a group of two officers and 10 men to surrender. They immediately opened fire and he threw a bomb and jumped amongst them, killing two and putting the rest to flight, and so captured two machine-guns.  

Sergeant Henry John Laurent VC.   

The Citation reads:  The Allied advance towards the end of the war, the New Zealanders came up against a strong German position at Gouzeaucort Wood in France. On 12 September 1918 during confused attacks on the objective, Sergeant Laurent was sent out with a twelve- man patrol to probe the enemy defences. Finding a heavily defended trench system, he immediately attacked. After hand to- hand fighting the twelve Kiwis killed thirty of the enemy, captured the trench and took 112 prisoners. When the Germans counter attacked, Laurent managed to retreat in good order, keeping the prisoners under control and fighting a rearguard action. “The success of this venture was due to Sergeant Laurent’s gallantry and enterprise.” This rather incredible action resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross to Sergeant Laurent

World War 11

Sergeant John Daniel Hinton VC.  

The Citation reads:  On the night of the 28-19 April 1941 during the fighting in Greece, a German column, which contained several armoured cars, 2in guns and 3in mortars and two 6in guns rapidly converged on a large force of British and New Zealand troops awaiting embarkation on a beach. When the order to retreat to cover was given, Sgt Hinton, shouting “To hell with this, who’ll come with me,” ran to within several yards of the nearest gun; the gun fired, missing him, and he hurled two grenades, which completely wiped out the crew. He then came on with the bayonet, followed by a crowd of New Zealanders. German troops abandoned the first 6in gun and retreated into two houses. Sergeant Hinton smashed the window then the door of the first house and dealt with the garrison with the bayonet. He then repeated the performance in the second house, and as a result, until overwhelming German forces arrived, the New Zealanders held the guns. Sergeant Hinton then fell with a bullet wound through the lower abdomen and was taken prisoner.

Sergeant Clive Hulme VC.  

The Citation reads:  Sergeant Hulme exhibited most outstanding and inspiring qualities of leadership, initiative, skill, endurance and conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, from the commencement of the heavy fighting in Crete on 20 May 1941 until he was wounded in action on 28 May 1941. He personally led parties in the forward positions and destroyed a number of enemy groups who had established themselves. On the 27 May in Suda Bay he volunteered to stalk and kill at least 5 enemy snipers. He outflanked and killed them in turn. On the 28^th May he was stalking another sniper when he was wounded seriously after putting a Mortar crew out of action. In all Sgt Hulme stalked and killed thirty three enemy snipers.

Sergeant James Ward VC RNZAF.  

The Citation reads:  On the night of the 7 July 1941, Sergeant Ward was second pilot of a Wellington Bomber returning from an attack on Munster. When flying over the Zuider Zee at 13,000 feet, the aircraft was attacked from beneath by a Messerschmitt, which secured hits with cannon shell and incendiary bullets. Fire broke out near the starboard engine and fed by petrol, quickly gained an alarming hold and threatened to spread to the entire wing. The crew forced a hole in the fuselage and tried to fight the fire with extinguishers without success. As a last resort Sergeant Ward climbed out through the hole in the fuselage and then down on the wing to the blazing engine and using wing fabric he smothered the flames. Tired as he was, he was able with the assistance of the Navigator, to successfully make the perilous journey back into the aircraft. The aircraft finally made it home and safely landed. For this act of bravery Sergeant Ward was awarded the Victoria Cross. Ten weeks later on the 15 September, while on another operation Sergeant Ward’s aircraft was shot down and he was killed in action.

Sergeant Keith Elliott VC.  

The Citation reads:  Sergeant Elliott, while leading his Platoon in an attack under heavy machine –gun and mortar fire, was wounded in the chest. Nevertheless, he carried on and led his men in a bayonet charge, which resulted in the capture of four enemy machine-gun posts and an anti tank gun. Seven of the enemy were killed and 50 taken prisoner. In spite of his wounds Sergeant Elliott refused to leave his Platoon until he had reformed them and handed over the prisoners, the number of which had by then increased to 130.