2011 The Victoria Cross

         



The Victoria Cross is a bronze cross 41 mm high and 36 mm wide, bearing the Crown of Saint Edward surmounted by a lion. The cross was originally intended to be the Maltese Cross with the inscription "For the Brave" but this was changed to "For Valour" by Queen Victoria who thought the former wording might imply not all the men in battle were brave.
          The ribbon, described as crimson or wine red, is 38mm wide and passes through the bar from which the medal hangs. The bar is engraved with ornamental laurel leaves.
          On the reverse, the bar is engraved with the recipient's name, rank, number and unit. On the reverse of the cross is a circular panel on which the date of the act for which it was awarded is engraved in the centre. See the example of the VC awarded to Edward Holland on the right.

The Full Sheet of 22 Stamps.

            In 2011 NZ Post issued a sheet of 22 stamps featuring every recipient of the Victoria Cross in New Zealand. When I first looked at this sheet my reaction was 'oh yeah. That's interesting.' Then I moved on to something else.
            Recently I went back and began reading about some of the stories behind each of these awards and I've discovered everyone has an interesting story to tell. So this post is about these stories. Below you will find each stamp separated from the sheet. Beside each stamp I've included some details about the man and what he did to be awarded the Victoria Cross. In many cases, I have had to fall back on Wikipedia for information but I have also used the original citation the Supplements to the London Gazette. These will appear in italic.   

The 22 Stamps and Their Stories.

Charles Heaphy - 11 February 1864, Waikato, New Zealand.

          
           Charles Heaphy was born in England and came to New Zealand in 1839, as artist and surveyor for the first New Zealand Company in Wellington. He later helped establish the settlement in Nelson as well. In 1859 he joined the Auckland Militia, New Zealand Military Forces, and as a major took part in the Invasion of the Waikato of 1863–64 during the New Zealand Wars.
           Charles Heaphy was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at a skirmish on the banks of the Mangapiko River, in New Zealand, on the 11th of February, 1864. He went forward to assist a wounded soldier of the 40th Regiment and came under fire himself from Maoris hidden nearby. 
          Five balls pierced his clothes and cap, and he was wounded in three places. Although hurt, he continued to aid the wounded and command the men under him until the end of the day when help arrived.

William James Hardham - 28 January 1901, South Africa.

          Sargent Major William James Hardham was the first New Zealand born recipient of the Victoria Cross. He was an officer in the 4th New Zealand Contingent, New Zealand Military Forces during the Second Boer War.  On 28 January 1901, Major Hardham was involved in an action near Naauwpoort which earned him the Victoria Cross.  
          The group he was with was hotly engaged with a party of about 20 Boers.  It became obvious that they would need to withdraw when one of the men, Trooper McCrae, was wounded and his horse killed. Sargent Major Hardham at once went to his assistance. Under heavy fire, he dismounted and placed the wounded soldier his own horse, and ran alongside until he had guided him to a place of safety. Valour in the face of the enemy, worthy of the Victoria Cross.

Cyril Royston Guyton Bassett - 7 August 1915, Gallipoli.

             When World I started Cyril Bassett joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) as a sapper in the New Zealand Divisional Signal Company. Bassett embarked with the main body of the NZEF for the Middle East in October 1914. Initially based in Egypt, after a period of training, he landed at ANZAC Cove on 25 April 1915, the opening day of the Gallipoli Campaign. 
            In August 1915 a series of offensives were planned and carried out against Turkish positions along the Gallipoli front. On 7 August, the New Zealand Infantry Brigade attacked Chunuk Bair, a prominent hill overlooking the battlefield. The battle lasted for three days, during which Bassett, in command of a section of five other signalers of his unit, laid down and maintained telephone lines between the brigade's headquarters and the front lines. He braved continuous gunfire during this time. Although not wounded, bullets passed close enough that his tunic was twice pierced. After the battle, he was nominated for the Victoria Cross (VC) for his actions.
            Years later, his daughter did not learn about her father's award until she studied the Gallipoli Campaign at school. Cyril Bassett was modest of his achievements and expressed embarrassment at being the only New Zealand VC recipient of the Gallipoli Campaign. His cross is now on display in the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Donald Forrester Brown - 15 September 1916,

High Wood, France.

          Donald Forrester Brown VC was a New Zealand soldier of World War I who was a posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross. He was the second New Zealander to win a cross during the war, and was the first awarded for actions on the Western Front.
          Brown was a sergeant when he earned his Victoria Cross in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette during the Somme Offensive. On the opening day of the battle, 15 September 1916, his unit was capturing a series of German-held trenches when they came under heavy flanking machine-gun fire while advancing to the next trench line. Together with another soldier, Corporal J. Rodgers, he attacked one machine-gun post, killing the crew and capturing the gun. When they came under fire from a second machine-gun post, Brown was amongst those who attacked this second machine gun post as well.
          The New Zealanders advanced and successfully captured their next objective, the Switch Line. The following day, his company along with the remainder of his battalion was relieved and able to withdraw. Brown's company lost 123 men from its initial complement of 180 during the opening day of the battle.
         The Otago Regiment was back in the line on 1 October for the Battle of Le Transloy. In an attack on a German strongpoint near Eaucourt L'Abbaye, Brown was again involved in the seizing of an enemy machine-gun post which was holding up the advance. Moving forward on his own, and armed only with a pistol, Brown attacked the post, killing its crew and capturing the gun. This allowed his fellow troops to attack and capture the strongpoint. During this attack, Brown was shot in the head by a sniper and killed instantly.
            Brown's company commander had recommended him for a Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions on 15 September. After his death, his battalion commander asked that this award be upgraded to a Victoria Cross. The award of the Victoria Cross was presented to his father by the 2nd Earl of Liverpool, New Zealand's Governor-General, on 30 August 1917.

            



Samuel Frickleton - 7 June 1917, Messines, Belgium.

       

          Frickleton was born on 1 April 1891 in Scotland, one of 11 children born to a coal-miner and his wife. He immigrated to New Zealand in 1913 and lived on the West Coast. He worked alongside four of his brothers in a coal mine in Blackball. Following the outbreak of the First World War, Frickleton joined the New Zealand Military Forces in February 1915 and volunteered to serve overseas with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF). 

           On 7 June 1917, Frickleton participated in the Battle of Messines. His battalion was attacking the edge of Messines village when it was slowed by two machine-gun posts. He was awarded a Victoria Cross (VC) for his actions in dealing with these posts. Although slightly wounded, Lance Corporal Frickleton dashed forward at the head of his section, rushed through a barrage and destroyed the machine gun and crew, which were causing heavy casualties. He then attacked the second gun, killing the whole of the crew of twelve. This ensured the capture of the objective but during the consolidation of the position, he suffered a second severe wound. 
          Frickleton was wounded in the arm and hip and was badly gassed, which would affect his health for the remainder of his life. Evacuated to England for medical treatment, he was presented with his VC by King George V on 17 September 1917.

Leslie Wilton Andrew - 31 July 1917, La Basse Ville, France.

            Brigadier Leslie Wilton Andrew, VC, DSO was a senior officer in the New Zealand Military Forces and he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917.

           During the early part of this battle, Andrew's battalion was engaged in fighting around the village of La Basseville. The New Zealanders had captured the village but it had been retaken by the Germans the following day. As an attempt was made to take the village again, Andrew was tasked with leading two sections forward to destroy a machine-gun post. During the advance, he noticed another machine-gun post that was holding up the advance of another platoon. On his own initiative, he promptly diverted his force and removed the newly spotted threat with a flanking attack. He then continued with his men to his original objective. Braving continuous gunfire, he and his men captured the machine-gun post. 
           While most of his men withdrew with the gun, he and another man continued to scout further forward. Coming across another machine-gun post, the two men destroyed it before returning to their lines with useful information on the increasing numbers of Germans in the area.
           It was for his leadership and bravery during these actions that Andrew was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) at the age of 20.

  

Henry James Nicholas - 3 December 1917,

Polderhoek, Belgium.

          Nicholas was a 26-year-old private in the 1st Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force during World War I when the following actions awarded him the VC. 
          On 3 December 1917, at Polderhoek in Belgium, Private Nicholas, one of a Lewis Gun section, which was checked by heavy machine-gun and rifle fire from an enemy strong-point. He went forward followed by the remainder of his section at an interval of about 25 yards, shot the officer in command of the strong-point and overcame the remainder of the garrison of 16 with bombs and bayonets, capturing four wounded prisoners and a machine-gun. He had captured the strong-point practically single-handed and thereby saved many casualties.  
          Later promoted to sergeant, Nicholas was killed in action on 23 October 1918, near Vertigneul in France. He is buried in the Vertigneul Churchyard. His Victoria Cross is on public display in the Canterbury Museum.

Richard Charles Travis - 24 July 1918, Hébuterne, France.

        

        Travis was born as Dickson Cornelius Savage on 6 April 1884 in Opotiki, New Zealand. Due to getting himself in trouble in his early life, he changed his name to Richard Charles Travis.

         In July 1918, as part of the operations undertaken prior to the Allied Hundred Days Offensive planned for August, the 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment, was committed to operations around Rossignol Wood, to the north of Hébuterne, where a salient had developed in the German lines. For his part in the early stages of the battle which followed Travis earned his Victoria Cross.

         The citation for Travis' Victoria Cross in the Supplement to the London Gazette on 27 September 1918 reads:
         For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. During 'surprise' operations it was necessary to destroy an impassable wire block. Serjt. Travis, regardless of personal danger, volunteered for this duty. Before zero hour, in broad daylight and in close proximity to enemy posts he crawled out and successfully destroyed the block with bombs, thus enabling the attacking parties to pass through.
        A few minutes later a bombing party on the right of the attack was held up by two enemy machine guns, and the success of the whole operation was in danger. Perceiving this Serjt. Travis with great gallantry and utter disregard of danger, rushed the position, killed the crews and captured the guns. An enemy officer and three men immediately rushed at him from a bend in the trench and attempted to retake the guns. These four he killed single-handed, thus allowing the bombing party on which much depended to advance.
         The success of the operation was almost entirely due to the heroic work of this gallant N.C.O. and the vigour with which he made and used opportunities for inflicting casualties on the enemy. He was killed 24 hours later when, in a most intense bombardment prior to an enemy counter-attack, he was going from post to post encouraging the men.
          For his deeds on 24 July, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross in September 1918. 

Samuel Forsyth - 24 August 1918, Grévillers, France.

          Samuel Forsyth was born in Wellington, New Zealand on 3 April 1891. Forsyth enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and embarked for the Middle East in October 1914 with the Field Engineers. He served at Gallipoli during the campaign there in 1915 and was medically evacuated twice. By 1918, he had been promoted to sergeant in the New Zealand Engineers.

           The Auckland Infantry Regiment was moved to the Western Front and during the early stages of the Hundred Days Offensive, Forsyth was on probation for a commission in his own unit and his attachment to the battalion was in order to gain front line experience. On 24 August 1918, the battalion was tasked with the capture of the village of Grevillers. 
           When his company came under heavy machine-gun fire under Serjt. Forsyth's leadership three machine-gun positions were rushed and the crews were 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. Forsyth was trying to guide a tank to attack these positions when he was wounded, but after having the wound bandaged, he again got in touch with the Tank in the face of very heavy fire.
          When the Tank was put out of action. Serjt. Forsyth then organised the Tank crew and several of his men into a section and led them to a position where the machine guns could be outflanked. This caused the withdrawal of the enemy machine guns and enabled the advance to continue. This gallant N.C.O. was at that moment killed by a sniper.

Reginald Stanley Judson - 26 August 1918, Bapaume, France. 

          In June 1918, Judson, a sergeant, was with the New Zealand Division engaged in fighting in the Somme sector. During that action, he rescued six of his fellow soldiers during a German counterattack near Hebuterne. For this action, he was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). On 16 August, he was at the forefront of a bayonet charge at Bucquoy that earned him the Military Medal (MM).

         Ten days later, Judson participated in the Second Battle of Bapaume during which his actions led to his award of the Victoria Cross (VC). The actions which led to Judson being awarded the VC, the DCM and the MM took place over a period of just four weeks. The citation for Judson's VC was published in the same edition of the London Gazette as the citation for his DCM. His VC citation read as follows:

         For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when, in an attack on enemy positions, he 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 before him. Jumping out of the trench he ran ahead of the enemy. Then, standing on the parapet, he order the party, consisting of two officers and about ten men, to surrender. They instantly fired on him, but he threw a bomb and jumped down amongst them, killed two, and put the rest to flight, and so captured two machine-guns. This prompt and gallant action not only saved many lives, but also enabled the advance to be continued unopposed.

—The London Gazette, No. 30982, 30 October 1918.

Harry John Laurent - 12 September 1918,

Gouzeaucourt Wood, France.

         Henry John Laurent, known as Harry, was born on 15 April 1895 in Tarata, in the Taranaki region of New Zealand. After leaving school, he worked as a grocer's assistant. He also served with the Territorial Force, having joined at the age of 16. He enlisted with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) in May 1915, shortly after his 20th birthday.
         During the Hundred Days Offensive, the New Zealand Division, following the Second Battle of Bapaume, was in pursuit of retreating German forces. Leading a patrol on 12 September in the area east of Gouzeaucourt Wood, Laurent was ordered to locate and regain contact with the German front lines. The 12 man patrol inadvertently penetrated through the frontline and located a line of artillery. Realising the patrol's mistake, Laurent organised a swift attack which resulted in the capture of 112 prisoners, with one member of the patrol being killed and three others wounded. He then extricated his patrol, together with the prisoners, back to the New Zealand line, fighting off counterattacks along the way. For his bravery and leadership, he was awarded the Victoria Cross which was gazetted on 12 November 1918.

James Crichton - 30 September 1918, Crevecoeur, France.  

          James Crichton VC (15 July 1879 – 25 September 1961) was a soldier in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and recipient of the Victoria Cross.

Crichton was born in Ireland but grew up in the hamlet of Northrigg by Blackridge, West Lothian, Scotland. Crichton served with the Cameron Highlanders during the South African (Boer) War before moving to New Zealand. Enlisting in the 1NZEF at the outbreak of the First World War, he served as a baker on the Western Front until May 1918, when he transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the First World War. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his deeds on 30 September 1918 at Crèvecœur, France:
         Private Crichton, although wounded in the foot, stayed with the advancing troops despite difficult canal and river obstacles. When his platoon was forced back by a counterattack he succeeded in carrying a message which involved swimming a river and crossing an area swept by machine-gun fire. Subsequently, he rejoined his platoon and later undertook on his own initiative to save a bridge which had been mined. Under close fire he managed to remove the charges, returning with the fuses and detonators.

        Crichton later achieved the rank of sergeant. He died at Takapuna, New Zealand, on 25 September 1961.

John Gildroy Grant - 1 September 1918, Bancourt, France.

         Born on 26 August 1889 in Hawera, a small town in the Taranaki region of New Zealand, Grant was working as a builder when he volunteered for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) in June 1915.

         At the time of Grant's enlistment, the NZEF was engaged in the Gallipoli Campaign and after initial training, he embarked for the Middle East in October 1915. He joined the 1st Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment of the New Zealand Division, then being formed in the aftermath of the evacuation from the Gallipoli Peninsula. It duly embarked for the Western Front.

         Grant served with the battalion throughout 1916 and 1917, and the following year had reached the rank of sergeant. He was 29 years old when he performed the deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. 
         On 1 September 1918 near Bancourt, the leading waves of the battalion on reaching a crest of high ground found that a line of enemy machine-gun posts offered a serious obstacle to further advance. The company, however, advanced against these posts under point-blank fire, and when about 20 yards (18 m) away Grant, closely followed by a comrade, rushed ahead of his platoon, entering the centre post and demoralising the garrison so that the platoon were able to mop up the positions. In the same manner, he rushed the post on the left and the remaining posts were quickly occupied and cleared by his company.
         Shortly afterwards, Grant was promoted to second lieutenant and travelled to Cambridge in England for officer training in October 1918. He was wounded in November, within days of his return to the front. His service with the NZEF ended with his repatriation to New Zealand in 1919.

James Edward Allen Ward - 7 July 1941,

On operations over Holland.

          Ward was a 22-year-old sergeant pilot with No. 75 (NZ) Squadron when he carried out the action for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). He was co-pilot on a Vickers Wellington bomber flying out of RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, United Kingdom. On 7 July 1941 after an attack on Münster, Germany, the Wellington (AA-R) in which Sergeant Ward was second pilot, was attacked by a German Bf 110 night-fighter. The attack opened a fuel tank in the starboard wing and caused a fire at the rear of the starboard engine.

          The crew forced a hole in the fuselage and made efforts to reduce the fire using extinguishers, and even coffee from their flasks, without success. Sergeant Ward volunteered to attempt to put out the fire by climbing out to the engine. Sergeant Ward crawled out through the narrow astro-hatch (used for celestial navigation) on the end of a rope taken from the aircraft's emergency dinghy. He kicked or tore holes in the aircraft's fabric to give himself hand- and foot-holes. By this means, he got to the engine and smothered the flames with a canvas cover.
           Although the fuel continued to leak with the fire out the plane was now safe. His crawl back over the wing, in which he had previously torn holes, was more dangerous than the outward journey but he managed with the help of the aircraft's navigator. Instead of the crew having to bail-out, the aircraft made an emergency landing at Newmarket, United Kingdom.

Charles Hazlitt Upham - 22-30 May 1941, Crete and

14-15 July 1942, Western Desert.

           Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham VC (21 September 1908 – 22 November 1994) was a New Zealand soldier who earned the Victoria Cross twice during the Second World War: in Crete in May 1941, and at Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt, in July 1942. He was the third of only three people to receive the VC twice, the only person to receive two VCs during the Second World War and the only combat soldier to receive the award twice. As a result, Upham is often described as the most highly decorated Commonwealth soldier of that war, as the VC is the Commonwealth's highest award for extreme gallantry in the face of the enemy.

The First VC
          During the operations in Crete, Second Lieutenant Charles Hazlitt Upham performed a series of remarkable exploits, showing outstanding leadership, tactical skill and utter indifference to danger.
          He commanded a forward platoon in the attack on Maleme on 22nd May and fought his way forward for over 3,000 yards unsupported by any other arms and against a defence strongly organised in depth. During this operation, his platoon destroyed numerous enemy posts opening the way for further advance.

The Second VC

          Captain C. H. Upham, V.C., was commanding a Company of New Zealand troops in the Western Desert during the operations which culminated in the attack on El Ruweisat Ridge on the night of 14th-15th July 1942.

          In spite of being twice wounded, once when crossing open ground swept by enemy fire to inspect his forward sections guarding our mine-fields and again when he completely destroyed an entire truckload of German soldiers with hand grenades, Captain Upham insisted on remaining with his men to take part in the final assault. The objective was achieved with the company successful occupying the position. Upham stayed with him men even when they came under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire. He was again severely wounded and being now unable to move, fell into the hands of the enemy when, his gallant Company having been reduced to only six survivors, his position was finally overrun by superior enemy forces.

Alfred Clive Hulme - 20-28 May 1941, Crete.

          He was 30 years old and a sergeant in the 23rd Battalion, (The Canterbury Regiment) 5th Brigade, 2nd Division, 2NZEF during the Second World War when the actions took place during the Battle of Crete for which he was awarded the VC.

          The citation from the London Gazette dated 10 October 1941 reads:

"Sergeant Hulme exhibited most outstanding and inspiring qualities of leadership, initiative, skill, endurance, and most 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 28 May 1941. On ground overlooking Malene Aerodrome on 20 and 21 May, he personally led parties of his men from the area held by the forward position and destroyed enemy organised parties who had established themselves out in front of our position, from which they brought heavy rifle, machine-gun and mortar fire to bear on our defensive posts. Numerous snipers in the area were dealt with by Sergeant Hulme personally; one hundred and thirty dead were counted here. On 22, 23 and 24 May, Sergeant Hulme was continuously going out alone or with one or two men and destroying enemy snipers. On 25 May, when Sergeant Hulme had rejoined his battalion, this unit counter-attacked Galatas Village. The attack was partially held up by a large party of the enemy holding the school, from which they were inflicting heavy casualties on our troops. Sergeant Hulme went forward alone, threw grenades into the school, and so disorganised the defence that the counter-attack was able to proceed successfully.
On Tuesday, 27 May, when our troops were holding a defensive line in Suda Bay during the final retirement, five enemy snipers had worked into position on the hillside overlooking the flank of the battalion line. Sergeant Hulme volunteered to deal with the situation and stalked and killed the snipers in turn. He continued similar work successfully through the day.

On 28 May at Stylos, when an enemy heavy mortar was bombing a very important ridge held by the battalion rearguard troops, inflicting severe casualties, Sergeant Hulme, on his own initiative, penetrated the enemy lines, killed the mortar crew of four, put the mortar out of action, and thus very materially assisted the withdrawal of the main body through Stylos. From the enemy mortar position, he then worked onto the left flank and killed three snipers who were causing concern to the rearguard. This made his score of enemy snipers thirty-three stalked and shot. Shortly afterwards Sergeant Hulme was severely wounded in the shoulder while stalking another sniper. When ordered to the rear, in spite of his wound, he directed traffic under fire and organised stragglers of various units into section groups."

John Daniel Hinton - 28-29 April 1941, Greece. 

             At the outbreak of war, he enlisted in Colonel Howard Kippenberger's 20th Battalion 2nd NZEF (The Canterbury Regiment) and rapidly rose to the rank of sergeant. He was sent to the Middle East with the 2nd New Zealand Division under General Bernard Freyberg.

Shortly after the division arrived in Egypt, Hinton was commanding a squad practising shooting when visited by Freyberg, who asked him how the men were shooting. 'How would you expect them to bloody well shoot?', replied Hinton, '—not enough bloody rations, stinking heat and sand'. Freyberg asked him to repeat the comment, which he did word for word. Hinton was not disciplined and a ration increase was announced that evening.

             The 20th battalion deployed to Greece to support the Greek resistance to Italian and German invasion, seeing action at Thermopylae before falling back. On 29 April 1941, the unit was preparing to withdraw by sea when the New Zealand troops heading for the port of Kalamata to await evacuation were attacked by enemy machine-gun fire and self-propelled 6-inch guns. 
            While organising a counter-attack Hinton was ordered to retreat and evacuate from the port. He dismissed the order with the words; "Fuck that, who's coming with me". He later explained his action as being because "I didn't like the way things were going". However, it should be stated he met up with and had the full support of his immediate commanding officer for most of the action. Sergeant Hinton rushed forward to the nearest gun and, hurling two grenades, killed the crew. He continued towards the quay, clearing out two light machine-gun nests and a mortar with grenades, then dealt with the garrison in a house where some of the enemy were sheltering. He then assisted in the capture of an artillery piece, but shortly after was shot in the stomach, immobilised and captured.
            While a prisoner of war Hinton twice escaped and made several other attempts. He was told he had been awarded the VC as he lay in hospital recovering from a beating given after one of these attempts. Jack Hinton received his Victoria Cross from King George VI on May 11, 1945, at Buckingham Palace.

Keith Elliot - 15 July 1942, Western Desert. 

            Elliott was born in Apiti, New Zealand. When he was 26 years old, and a Sergeant in the 22nd Battalion, 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the Second World War, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 15 July 1942 at Ruweisat, Western Desert, Egypt.

            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.
            His Victoria Cross was displayed at the QEII Army Memorial Museum at Waiouru, New Zealand. On Sunday 2 December 2007, it was one of nine Victoria Crosses that were among a hundred medals stolen from the museum. On 16 February 2008 New Zealand Police announced all the medals had been recovered as a result of an NZ$300,000 reward offered by Michael Ashcroft and Tom Sturgess.

Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu - 26-27 March 1943, Tunisia.

         A Māori of Ngati Porou and Te Whanau-a-Apanui descent, Ngarimu was born on 7 April 1918 in Whareponga in the East Coast region. He grew up in Ruatoria where he attended Hiruharama School before going on to attend Te Aute College at Poukawa in Hawkes Bay. After completing his fourth form year, he worked as a shepherd on his father's sheep farm.

          Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Ngarimu joined the New Zealand Army on 11 February 1940, volunteering for the 28th (Māori) Battalion. The battalion, which embarked in May 1940 with the 2nd Echelon of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force was destined for the Middle East to join the 1st Echelon but instead was diverted to England in May 1940 where it formed part of the island's defence against a possible German invasion. The battalion eventually arrived in Egypt in March 1941.

           Ngarimu served through the battles of Greece and Crete after which he participated with the battalion during the North African Campaign. Commissioned in April 1942, he served for a time as an intelligence officer before being given command of his own platoon.
           By March 1943, the campaign in Africa had moved to Tunisia. The 2nd Division, of which the Māori battalion was part of, was tasked with the capture of the Tebaga Gap, which disrupted otherwise mountainous terrain. Several hills overlooked the gap, which itself was forced relatively easy, although several hills remained in German hands. One such hill was Point 209, held by the 2nd Battalion, 433 Panzer Grenadier Regiment of the 164 Light Division. Ngarimu's company was allocated the objective of the capture of Point 209. On the afternoon of 26 March, he led his men up the slope and captured what was believed to be the top of Point 209, although it transpired to be a false summit and a feature lower on the slopes of Point 209.  
           Fierce fighting transpired as the Germans attempted to drive Ngarimu's forces off the hill. Twice wounded, he and his men defended their position from several counter-attacks during the night. His position reinforced the following morning, he was killed during the next counter-attack.

Lloyd Allen Trigg - 11 August 1943,

Sea patrol, Atlantic Ocean.

         Lloyd Allen Trigg was flying an operational flight in a Liberator V over the Atlantic from his base in Bathurst, West Africa, when on 11 August 1943 when he engaged the German submarine U-468 under the command of Oberleutnant Klemens Schamong. The badly damaged U-boat sank after the attack with the loss of 42 hands but seven survivors (including Schamong) were spotted in the dinghy of the crashed Liberator, drifting off the coast of West Africa. None of the Liberator crew survived their crash into the ocean. Schamong reported the incident, recommending Trigg be decorated for his bravery. The citation reads as follows:
Air Ministry, 2nd November 1943.
The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the VICTORIA CROSS on the undermentioned officer in recognition of most conspicuous bravery: — Flying Officer Lloyd Allan TRIGG, D.F.C. (N.Z.413515), Royal New Zealand Air Force (missing, believed killed), No. 200 Squadron.
Flying Officer Trigg had rendered outstanding service on convoy escort and antisubmarine duties. He had completed 46 operational sorties and had invariably displayed skill and courage of a very high order. One day in August 1943, Flying Officer Trigg undertook, as captain and pilot, a patrol in a Liberator although he had not previously made any operational sorties in that type of aircraft. After searching for 8 hours a surfaced U-boat was sighted. Flying Officer Trigg immediately prepared to attack. During the approach, the aircraft received many hits from the submarine's anti-aircraft guns and burst into flames, which quickly enveloped the tail. The moment was critical. Flying Officer Trigg could have broken off the engagement and made a forced landing in the sea. But if he continued the attack, the aircraft would present a "no deflection" target to deadly accurate anti-aircraft fire, and every second spent in the air would increase the extent and intensity of the flames and diminish his chances of survival. There could have been no hesitation or doubt in his mind. He maintained his course in spite of the already precarious condition of his aircraft and executed a masterly attack. Skimming over the U-boat at less than 50 feet with anti-aircraft fire entering his opened bomb doors, Flying Officer Trigg dropped his bombs on and around the U-boat where they exploded with devastating effect. A short distance further on the Liberator dived into the sea with her gallant captain and crew. The U-boat sank within 20 minutes and some of her crew were picked up later in a rubber dinghy that had broken loose from the Liberator. The Battle of the Atlantic has yielded many fine stories of air attacks on underwater craft, but Flying Officer Trigg's exploit stands out as an epic of grim determination and high courage. His was the path of duty that leads to glory.

—Supplement to London Gazette, 29 October 1943, (dated 2 November 1943.

Leonard Henry Trent - 3 May 1943,

On operations over Holland.

          Leonard Trent was a 28-year-old squadron leader, Royal New Zealand Air Force, flying Ventura medium bombers serving with No. 487 Squadron RNZAF, under Royal Air Force control when he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

           On 3 May 1943, the squadron was ordered on a diversionary bombing attack on the power station in Amsterdam. No.s 118 Sqn, 167 and 504 Squadrons of the Coltishall Wing were to escort the Venturas and were to be met by further squadrons of No. 11 Group, Fighter Command over the Dutch coast. They were to cross the coast at sea level so as not to alert German radar, then climb.

           Unfortunately, the Group 11 aircraft flying ahead of the Venturas arrived early and crossed the coast high—being anxious to gain a height advantage—alerting the German defences. They ran low on fuel before the Venturas arrived and had to leave. The Luftwaffe scrambled some 70 fighters in four formations, with Focke-Wulf Fw 190s to deal with the escort and Messerschmitt Bf 109s the bombers.
           The escort Wing Leader, Wg Cdr Blatchford, vainly attempted to recall the bombers but they were soon hemmed in by fighters. Under constant attack by German fighters, 487 Squadron continued on to its target, the few surviving aircraft completing bombing runs before being shot down. The Squadron was virtually wiped out. Trent shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 with the forward machine guns of his plane. Immediately afterwards, his own aircraft (Ventura AJ209) was hit, went into a spin and broke up. Trent and his navigator were thrown clear at 7,000 feet and became prisoners. Trent, whose leadership was instrumental in ensuring the bombing run was completed, was awarded the Victoria Cross.
          After his capture, Trent was assigned to Stalag Luft III Sagan, Germany (now Żagań, Poland). He participated in the "Great Escape" of 24 March 1944 although he was recaptured almost immediately. Trent survived the war in a POW camp and was liberated by British forces on 2 May 1945. He returned to England and promptly recommenced RAF service, learning that his last combat mission had earned him the Victoria Cross. Quiet and unassuming, Trent disliked the fuss the award caused, especially during its investiture at Buckingham Palace on 12 April 1946, being uncomfortable with the publicity.

Bill Henry Apiata - 2004, Afghanistan.

         Apiata (then a Lance Corporal) was part of a New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) Troop in Afghanistan in 2004 which was attacked by about 20 enemy fighters while holed-up for the night in a rocky rural area. Enemy rocket-propelled grenades destroyed one of the troop's vehicles and immobilised another. This was followed by sustained machine gun and automatic rifle fire from close range.

          A grenade explosion blew Apiata off the bonnet of his vehicle, where he had been sleeping. Two other soldiers in or near the vehicle were wounded by shrapnel, one of them seriously (Corporal D). After finding cover, it was seen that Corporal D had life-threatening arterial bleeding and was deteriorating rapidly.
           Apiata assumed command of the situation, deciding all three would need to rejoin the troop which was about 70 metres to the rear. Apiata decided his only option was to carry Corporal D to safety, and none of the three were hit during the retreat. After getting Corporal D to shelter, Apiata rejoined the firefight.
            He became one of the very few living holders of the Victoria Cross which is the reason why his picture did not appear in this stamp issue. In part the citation reads:
"In total disregard of his own safety, Lance Corporal Apiata stood up and lifted his comrade bodily. He then carried him across the seventy metres of broken, rocky and fire-swept ground, fully exposed in the glare of battle to heavy enemy fire and into the face of returning fire from the main Troop position. That neither he nor his colleague was hit is scarcely possible. Having delivered his wounded companion to relative shelter with the remainder of the patrol, Lance Corporal Apiata re-armed himself and rejoined the fight in counter-attack."

          Three other SAS soldiers also received bravery awards for actions during the same mission. Two received the New Zealand Gallantry Decoration and one the New Zealand Gallantry Medal.

2011 Victoria Cross - Set of Three First Day Covers.

Set of three first day covers with stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue.

Victoria Cross - The New Zealand Story.

A 108-page hard-cover publication which included 22 exclusive miniature sheets for each of New Zealand's Victoria Cross recipients, a unique stamp sheet that is different to the one that was available individually, as well as citations, imagery and more.

Technical Information.

Date of issue: 14 April 2011.

The number of stamps: 22.

Denominations: 60c x 22.

Stamps and first-day cover designed: Cue Design, Wellington, New Zealand.

Printer and process: Southern Colour Print Ltd by offset lithography.

The number of colours: Four process colours plus silver.

Stamp size and format: 40mm x 30mm (vertical).

Paper type: Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper.

The number of stamps per sheet: 22.

Perforation gauge: 13.33 x 13.6.

Period of sale: These stamps remained on sale until 13 April 2012.

Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ

You can visit their website and Online Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/

Information & images for this post came from.

New Zealand Post (Stamps)