VICTORIA CROSS

The Victoria Cross is the highest British decoration awarded to members of the armed forces for valour while on active service, and was bestowed upon New Zealand servicemen in all of the three major wars in which New Zealand forces were engaged overseas. It was also awarded to a New Zealand militiaman and to 14 Royal Navy and Imperial Army personnel during the Second Maori War of 1860–72.

The original Royal Warrant instituting the Victoria Cross, dated 29 January 1856, restricted the award to “Our Naval and Military Services”, and required submissions from “Our Commander-in-Chief of Our Army” before an award could be made. In 1864, when Captain Charles Heaphy of the Auckland Militia was recommended for the Victoria Cross by the General Officer Commanding the Forces in New Zealand, the award was not approved because it was held that locally raised forces did not constitute an authorised part of the Imperial Army and were, therefore, ineligible under a strict interpretation of the existing Royal Warrant. Further strong representations made on Heaphy's behalf pointed out that he had initially been recommended by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Havelock, himself a Victoria Cross winner during the Indian Mutiny, and by whom he had been placed in command of a detachment of Imperial troops.

Eventually, on 1 January 1867, the Royal Warrant was amended and in the preamble to the amendment, drew specific attention to the operations “undertaken against the Insurgent Native Tribes of Our Colony of New Zealand” and the then ineligibility of “persons serving in the Local Forces of Our said Colony” for the high distinction of the Victoria Cross. The Warrant went on to authorise the award to “persons aforesaid provided that it be established in any case that the person was serving with Our Troops, under command of a General or other Officer”. Heaphy's Victoria Cross was gazetted a few weeks later, being the first awarded to a member of a colonial force as well as the first to a non-regular serviceman.

Later, in 1867, when New Zealand assumed full responsibility for the suppression of the hostile Maoris, the General Officer Commanding returned to England after relinquishing his command, and the Imperial troops were progressively withdrawn. Although further acts of valour were performed by New Zealanders before the end of hostilities, the Government of New Zealand did not forward any recommendations for the Victoria Cross as the local forces were no longer either serving with the Imperial troops or under command of an Imperial Army officer. Thus they were again considered ineligible for the award.

In 1869 the Governor of the colony, Sir George Bowen, instituted on his own authority the New Zealand Cross as a substitute award in place of the Victoria Cross. Although Queen Victoria subsequently ratified the award of this decoration in New Zealand, there is no doubt that the Governor's action made clear the inflexible regulations governing the award of the Victoria Cross. In 1881 the Royal Warrant was again amended and clarified for all time the eligibility of the regular and auxiliary forces of all parts of the Empire for the award of the Victoria Cross.

Since its institution in 1856, 1,344 Victoria Crosses have been awarded and three bars or second awards, made. A New Zealander, Captain C. H. Upham, is the only combatant recipient of a bar to the Victoria Cross and this was also the only bar awarded during the Second World War. The other two awards of a bar were made to medical officers during the First World War. The first Victoria Cross to be won in the air was posthumously awarded to Second-Lieutenant W. B. Rhodes-Moorhouse, a New Zealander serving in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. The first award of the Victoria Cross to an airman for sinking an enemy submarine was made posthumously to Flying Officer L. A. Trigg, RNZAF, whose blazing aircraft later crashed into the sea. Although there were no survivors, his award was made on the recommendations of the captain and crew of the U-boat he had sunk, a distinction without precedent in two world wars. The first and, to date, the only award of the Victoria Cross to a member of the Maori race, was that bestowed posthumously upon Second-Lieutenant Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu.

A total of 21 Victoria Crosses and one bar have been awarded to New Zealand servicemen, one during the Maori War of 1860–72; one during the South African War of 1899–1902; 11 during the First World War; and eight and a bar during the Second World War. In addition, seven awards were made to New Zealanders serving in other forces during the First World War, but these are not credited to New Zealand in official records and statistics.

Lists of Recipients

In the ensuing lists of recipients relative to New Zealand, which are arranged alphabetically, details are recorded in the following order: rank at time of award, name, unit, date of act of valour, place of the act, date of notification in the London Gazette, and award posthumous:

Awards to New Zealand Servicemen

Corporal Leslie Wilton Andrew; 2nd Wellington Regt., 1st NZEF; 31 July 1917; Basseville, France; 6 September 1917. He later joined the N.Z. Staff Corps, rising to the rank of brigadier, and was awarded the D.S.O. during the Second World War.

Corporal Cyril Royston Guyton Bassett; N.Z. Divisional Signal Coy., 1st NZEF; 7 August 1915; Chunuk Bair Ridge, Gallipoli; 15 October 1915. This was the first New Zealand award during the First World War.

Sergeant Donald Forrester Brown; 2nd Battalion, N.Z. Infantry, 1st NZEF; 15 September 1916; south-east of High Wood, France; 14 June 1917. (Posthumous award.)

Private James Crichton; 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regt., 1st NZEF; 30 September 1918; Crevecoeur, France; 15 November 1918. Died at Auckland on 22 September 1961, aged 82 years.

Sergeant Keith Elliott; 22nd Battalion, 2nd NZEF; 15 July 1942, Ruweisat, Western Desert; 24 September 1942. Became a clerk in holy orders after the war.

Sergeant Samuel Forsyth; N.Z. Engineers attached 2nd Auckland Battalion, 1st NZEF; 24 August 1918; Grevillers, France; 22 October 1918. (Posthumous award.)

Lance-Corporal Samuel Frickleton; 3rd Battalion, N.Z. Rifle Brigade, 1st NZEF; 7 July 1917; Messines, Belgium; 2 August 1918.

Sergeant John Gilroy Grant; 1st Battalion, Wellington Regt., 1st NZEF; 1 September 1918; near Bancourt, France; 27 November 1918.

Farrier-Major William James Hardham; 4th Contingent, N.Z. Mounted Rifles; 28 January 1901; near Naauwpoort, South Africa; 4 October 1901. Later a major, he died on 13 April 1928.

Captain Charles Heaphy; Auckland Militia; 11 February 1864; Mangapiko River, New Zealand; 8 February 1867. Later a major, he died at Brisbane, Australia, on 3 August 1881, aged 59 years.

Sergeant John Daniel Hinton; 20th Battalion, 2nd NZEF; 28–29 April 1941; Kalamai, Greece; 17 October 1941.

Sergeant Alfred Clive Hulme; 23rd Battalion, 2nd NZEF; 20–28 May 1941; Maleme, Galatos, Suda Bay, and Stylos. Crete; 14 October 1941.

Sergeant Reginald Stanley Judson, D.C.M., M.M.; 1st Battalion, Auckland Regt., 1st NZEF; 26 August 1918; south of Bapaume, France; 30 October 1918.

Sergeant Harry John Laurent; 2nd Battalion, N.Z. Rifle Brigade, 1st NZEF; 12 September 1918; east of Gouzeaucourt Wood, France; 15 November 1918.

Second-Lieutenant Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu; 28th (Maori) Battalion, 2nd NZEF; 26 March 1943; Tebaga Gap, Tunisia; 4 June 1943. (Posthumous award.)

Private Henry James Nicholas; 1st Battalion, Canterbury Regt., 1st NZEF; 3 December 1917; Polderhoek, Belgium; 11 January 1918.

Sergeant Richard Charles Travis, D.C.M., M.M.; 2nd Battalion Otago Regt., 1st NZEF; 24 July 1918; north of Hebuterne France; 27 September 1918. (Posthumous award.) His correct name was Dickson Cornelius Savage, but he enlisted and served under the family name of Travis.

Squadron Leader Leonard Henry Trent, D.F.C.; RNZAF (No. 487 (N.Z.) Sqn. RAF); 3 May 1943; over Amsterdam, Holland; 1 March 1946.

Flying Officer Lloyd Allan Trigg, D.F.C.; RNZAF (No. 200 Sqn. RAF); 11 August 1943; anti-submarine patrol, Atlantic Ocean; 2 November 1943. (Posthumous award.)

Second-Lieutenant Charles Hazlitt Upham; 20th Battalion, 2nd NZEF. V.C. –22–30 May 1941; Maleme, Galatos, and Sphakia, Crete; 14 October 1941. Bar – As a captain; 14 July 1942; Ruweisat Ridge, Western Desert; 26 September 1945.

Sergeant-Pilot James Allen Ward; RNZAF (No. 75 (N.Z.) Sqn. RAF); 7 July 1941; over the Zuider Zee, Holland; 5 August 1941. This was the first New Zealand award during the Second World War. He was killed on operations over Germany on 15 September 1941.

Awards to New Zealanders in Other Forces

Private Thomas Cooke; 8th Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces; 24–25 July 1916; Pozieres, France; 9 September 1916. (Posthumous award.)

Captain (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Bernard Cyril Freyberg, D.S.O.; Royal West Surrey Regt., Commanding Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division; 13 November 1916; north of Ancre, France; 15 December 1916. Later, as a lieutenant-general commanded the 2nd NZEF throughout the war, and was Governor-General of New Zealand, 1946–52. Created Baron Freyberg of Wellington, New Zealand, in 1951.

Second-Lieutenant William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse; Special Reserve, RFC; 26 April 1915; near Courtrai, France; 22 May 1915. (Posthumous award.)

Acting-Lieutenant William Edward Sanders; Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Prize; 30 April 1917; “Q” ship action at sea; 22 June 1917. Later awarded the D.S.O. and went down with his ship on 14 August 1917. A New Zealand yachting award, the Sanders Cup, is named after him.

Captain Alfred John Shout; 1st Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces; 9 August 1915; Lone Pine Trenches, Gallipoli; 15 October 1915. (Posthumous award.)

Lieutenant Percy Valentine Storkey; 19th Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces; 7 April 1918; Bois de Hangard, France; 7 June 1918.

Temporary Corporal Lawrence Carthage Weathers; 43rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces; 2 September 1918; north of Peronne, France; 26 December 1918. He was mortally wounded 29 September 1918 and died without learning of his Victoria Cross.

Awards to Imperial Servicemen During the 2nd Maori War

Ensign John Thornton Down; 57th Regt. (1st Battalion, The Middlesex Regt.); 2 October 1863; Poutoko, N.Z., 22 September 1864. Died at Otahuhu Camp on 27 April 1866, aged 24 years.

Colour-Sergeant John Lucas; 40th Regt. (1st Battalion, The South Lancashire Regt.); 18 March 1861; Te Arei, N.Z.; 17 July 1861.

Colour-Sergeant Edward MacKenna; 65th Regt. (1st Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regt.); 7 September 1863; near Camerontown, Waikato Heads, N.Z.; 16 January 1864. On discharge from the Army in 1867 he joined the N.Z. Railways and at the time of his retirement was stationmaster at Palmerston North, where he died in 1908.

Lieutenant-Colonel John Carstairs McNeill; 107th Regt. (2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regt.); 30 March 1864; Ohaupo N.Z.; 16 August 1864. Later became a major-general, K.C.B., K.C.M.G.

Assistant-Surgeon William George Nicholas Manley; Royal Artillery; 29 April 1864; Gate Pa, Tauranga, N.Z.; 22 September 1864. Later became Surgeon-General and served with a British ambulance with the Prussian Army during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, being awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd class. He is the only man ever to be awarded both the Victoria Cross and the Iron Cross.

Captain of the Foretop Samuel Mitchell; Royal Navy, HMS Harrier; 29 April 1864; Gate Pa, Tauranga, N.Z.; 23 July 1864. Later took up farming in New Zealand and was drowned in the Mikonui River, South Westland, in 1894.

Sergeant John Murray; 68th Regt. (1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry); 21 June 1864; Kaiopopo Pa, Te Ranga, N.Z., 4 November 1864.

Leading Seaman William Odgers; Royal Navy, HMS Niger; 28 March 1860; Waireka, N.Z.; 3 August 1860. This was the first awarded in New Zealand.

Lieutenant Arthur Frederick Pickard; Royal Artillery; 20 November 1863; Rangiriri, N.Z.; 22 September 1864. Later became lieutenant-colonel and assistant private secretary to Queen Victoria. Died in 1880, aged 38 years.

Lance-Corporal John Ryan; 65th Regt. (1st Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regt.); 7 September 1863; near Camerontown, Waikato Heads, N.Z.; 16 January 1864. He was drowned in 1863 trying to rescue a drunken soldier who had fallen in the Waikato River.

Captain Hugh Shaw; 18th Regt. (Royal Irish Regt.); 24 January 1865; Nukumaru, N.Z.; 28 November 1865. He later became a major-general, C.B.

Captain Frederick Augustus Smith; 43rd Regt. (1st Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry); 21 June 1864; Kaiopopo Pa, Te Ranga, N.Z.; 4 November 1864.

Drummer Dudley Stagpoole; 57th Regt. (1st Battalion, The Middlesex Regt.); 2 October 1863; Poutoko, N.Z.; 22 September 1864.

Assistant-Surgeon William Temple; Royal Artillery; 20 November 1863; Rangiriri, N.Z.; 22 September 1864.

by Capt. Geoffrey Troughear Stagg, F.R.N.S.N.Z., R.N.Z.A. (retired), formerly President of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand, Wellington.

• Royal Warrants, The Victoria Cross, 29 Jan 1856, 1 Jan 1867, 23 Apr 1881
• The London Gazette (Various dates as quoted in text)
• Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1865 (A. 1 and A. 5A), 1867 (A. 1)
• Official History of New Zealand's Effort in the Great War, Vol. I, Waite, F. (1919)
• Vol. II, Stewart, H. (1921);
• Official War History: New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force, Vols. I and II, Thompson, H. L. (1953 and 1956)
• List of the Recipients of the Victoria Cross, The War Office (1953)
• They Dared Mightily, Wigmore, L., and Harding, B. (1963).