Victoria Cross for New Zealand
Victoria Cross for New Zealand | |
---|---|
New Zealand military personnel | |
Status | Currently awarded |
Established | 24 September 1999 |
First awarded | 2 July 2007 |
Last awarded | 2007 |
Founder | Elizabeth II |
Total | 1 |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Highest |
Equivalent | New Zealand Cross |
Next (lower) | New Zealand Gallantry Star |
The Victoria Cross for New Zealand (VC;
The Victoria Cross for New Zealand was established in 1999 when New Zealand created a new award system that replaced several British honours with New Zealand awards. It is based on the original British
Origin
Victoria Cross
The original
The VC medals were originally cast from ingots of gunmetal sourced from the cascabels of captured cannons, mostly likely captured during the siege of Sevastopol, in the Crimean War. Originally believed to have been Russian-made cannons, it has since been determined they originated from China so it is possible that they may have been captured during the British campaigns in that country. The metal is treated with chemicals to bring it to a bronze colour.[3][4]
A single company of jewellers,
The VC has been awarded to 21 men serving in the New Zealand military, the first in 1867 to
Separate Commonwealth awards
In recent times, a number of
The review, conducted by a Honours Advisory Committee established by Prime Minister Jim Bolger, recommended the replacement of the existing British honours system with a New Zealand version. This extended to the introduction of New Zealand-based awards for gallantry, replacing existing British decorations such as the Distinguished Service Order and Distinguished Conduct Medal.[8]
Creation
The Honours Advisory Committee devised four levels of awards for New Zealand military personnel to recognise acts of gallantry performed in wartime, or in war-like conditions, the latter intended to cover actions performed in peace-keeping. These awards did away with separate gallantry honours for officers and other ranks. In particular it was proposed that the existing VC, as the highest level of gallantry award, be replaced with the Victoria Cross for New Zealand. The proposal was announced in May 1998 and formally came into effect the following year, being instituted by
The Victoria Cross for New Zealand is awarded for:
...most conspicuous gallantry, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy or of belligerents.
— The New Zealand Gallantry Awards: Royal Warrant, SR1999/318, 24 September 1999[9]
New Zealand was not the first Commonwealth country to create its own VC; Australia was the first to do so, in 1991, followed by Canada two years later.[7]
Appearance
The Victoria Cross for New Zealand is identical to the original design.[7] The decoration is a cross pattée, having straight edges and approximately 36 millimetres (1.4 in) square, bearing a crown surmounted by a lion, and the inscription "For Valour". The cross is suspended by a ring from a seriffed "V" to a bar ornamented with laurel leaves, through which the ribbon passes. The reverse of the suspension bar is engraved with the recipient's name, rank, number and unit. On the reverse of the medal is a circular panel on which the date of the act for which it was awarded is engraved in the centre. The ribbon is crimson, 38 millimetres (1.5 in) wide.[9][10]
The decoration, suspension bar and link weigh about 27 grams (0.95 oz).[11] The medal is worn on the left side of the chest, and precedes all other decorations worn by the recipient. A half size miniature medal may be worn on certain occasions in lieu of the medal itself and when wearing ribbons, a small bronze emblem as a representation of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand is affixed to the ribbon corresponding to the award. Recipients are entitled to a postnominal following their name, this being "VC".[9][12]
Conferment
The power of awarding the medal officially resides with the monarch of New Zealand. The royal warrant states that the "Awards of a New Zealand Gallantry Award and of a Bar to an Award shall be made by Us, Our Heirs and Successors, only on a recommendation by Our Prime Minister of New Zealand or a Minister of the Crown acting for Our Prime Minister."[9] As with the original VC, any recommendations pass through the New Zealand Defence Force chain of command to the Minister of Defence.
As of 2016, the Victoria Cross for New Zealand has been awarded once, to Lance Corporal Willie Apiata of the
After an investigation into the events of the patrol, the
See also
Notes
- ^ "The world's most exclusive club". Ministry of Defence. 30 April 2007. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
- ^ McGibbon & Goldstone 2000, pp. 558–559.
- ^ Harper & Richardson 2016, pp. 15–16.
- ^ "Hancocks of London History of VC". Hancocks of London. Archived from the original on 27 August 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2007.
- ^ Harper & Richardson 2016, pp. 14–15.
- ^ McGibbon & Goldstone 2000, pp. 559–561.
- ^ a b c McGibbon & Goldstone 2000, p. 559.
- ^ a b c McGibbon & Goldstone 2000, pp. 224–225.
- ^ a b c d "The New Zealand Gallantry Awards: Royal Warrant". New Zealand Legislation. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ Harper & Richardson 2016, p. 15.
- ^ Ashcroft 2006, p. 16.
- ^ "New Zealand Gallantry Awards". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ Harper & Richardson 2016, pp. 300–302.
- ^ Harper & Richardson 2016, pp. 302–303.
References
- ISBN 0-7553-1632-0.
- ISBN 978-1-77554-050-2.
- McGibbon, Ian C.; Goldstone, Paul (2000). The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History. Auckland: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-558376-2.
Further reading
- ISBN 0-906324-03-3.
- Duckers, Peter (2006). British Gallantry Awards, 1855–2000. Shire Publications Ltd. ISBN 0-7478-0516-4.
- Glanfield, John (2005). Bravest of the Brave. Sutton Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7509-3695-9.
- ISBN 1-84342-356-1.