Best and Bravest
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
BRITISH MILITARY HONOURS
THE IMPERIAL WARS
THE NEW ZEALAND WARS New Zealand’s First VC
CAPTAIN CHARLES HEAPHY
THE AFRICAN WARS The VC and a Mystery
CAPTAIN CECIL D’ARCY
For Saving Life
FARRIER SERGEANT MAJOR WILLIAM HARDHAM
THE FIRST WORLD WAR
GALLIPOLI A Heroic Signaller
CORPORAL CYRIL BASSETT
The Anzac Hero
CAPTAIN ALFRED SHOUT
THE WESTERN FRONT The Somme VC
SERGEANT DONALD BROWN
Another Anzac VC
PRIVATE THOMAS COOKE
A Kiwi Connection
CAPTAIN BERNARD FREYBERG
A VC at Messines Ridge
LANCE CORPORAL SAMUEL FRICKLETON
A Special Mission
CORPORAL LESLIE ANDREW
Attacking a Chateau
PRIVATE HENRY NICHOLAS
A Legend in His Lifetime
SERGEANT RICHARD TRAVIS
The VCs of the ‘Hundred Days’
SERGEANT SAMUEL FORSYTH
SERGEANT REGINALD JUDSON
SERGEANT JOHN GRANT
SERGEANT HARRY LAURENT
PRIVATE JAMES CRICHTON
Anzac VCs on the Somme
LIEUTENANT PERCY STORKEY
CORPORAL LAWRENCE WEATHERS
VC in the Air
SECOND LIEUTENANT WILLIAM RHODES-MOORHOUSE
THE WAR AT SEA New Zealand’s Only Naval VC
LIEUTENANT WILLIAM SANDERS
THE SECOND WORLD WAR
GREECE ‘To Hell with This!’
SERGEANT JACK HINTON
CRETE Sniper Hunter
SERGEANT CLIVE HULME
Double VC Recipient
SECOND LIEUTENANT CHARLES UPHAM
NORTH AFRICA Daring Attacks
CAPTAIN CHARLES UPHAM
A VC for Running Away
SERGEANT KEITH ELLIOTT
The Māori Battalion VC
SECOND LIEUTENANT
TE MOANANUI-A-KIWA NGARIMU
THE WAR IN THE AIR The Wing Walker
SERGEANT JAMES (JIMMY) WARD, RNZAF
The Great Escaper
SQUADRON LEADER LEONARD TRENT, RAF
Submarine Hunter
FLYING OFFICER LLOYD TRIGG, RAF
THE WAR ON TERROR
AFGHANISTAN Saving Life: Full Circle
LANCE CORPORAL WILLIE APIATA
CONCLUSION A Special Award for the Best and Bravest
APPENDICES Appendix 1: Victoria Cross Recipients
Appendix 2: Useful Army Information
Appendix 3: Useful Air Force Information
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
COPYRIGHT
INTRODUCTION
Since the early days of British military involvement in New Zealand, the Victoria Cross has been the highest medal for bravery in the armed forces. The award is named after Queen Victoria and was created in 1856, just after the Crimean War. The Victoria Cross was something any soldier, sailor and, eventually, airman could earn — before that, awards mostly went to officers. From the First World War onwards, the Victoria Cross was the only medal that could be awarded to a brave man who died performing the deed that earned the award.
Three New Zealanders received the Victoria Cross before the First World War: Charles Heaphy, who fought in the Waikato campaign of the New Zealand Wars; Cecil D’Arcy, who fought the Zulu in southern Africa; and William Hardham, again in South Africa, but fighting against the Boers.
The First World War was fought between August 1914 and November 1918. New Zealand soldiers were sent to help Britain, France and their other allies in the fight against Germany and their allies, including Turkey. The causes of that war were complex, but the young New Zealanders who fought in it believed they were defending their way of life within the British Empire. At first the Australians and New Zealanders were grouped together into an Army Corps, whose name was shortened to Anzac, and took part in the landings at Gallipoli to fight the Turks. Afterwards the Mounted Rifles stayed in Palestine to continue fighting the Turks, but most New Zealand soldiers fought in the New Zealand Division on the Western Front in Belgium and France. Two New Zealanders received Victoria Crosses at Gallipoli and 17 were earned in the war against Germany.
New Zealand was involved in the Second World War from September 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, until August 1945, when Japan surrendered. At first the New Zealand Army joined the British forces in North Africa. It was a year before the New Zealand Division saw action against the Germans in Greece and then Crete, where they lost many men, either killed or wounded or taken prisoner, but where three men also earned the Victoria Cross. The division then fought in the North African campaign, for which another four Victoria Crosses were to be awarded, and afterwards in Italy until the war ended. At the same time numerous New Zealanders served in the British air forces and naval units, either in New Zealand squadrons or ships or as attached individuals. Three New Zealanders attached to the Royal Air Force were to earn Victoria Crosses. When Japan entered the war in December 1941, New Zealand raised additional manpower to fight in the Pacific, and though these included an army division and several naval vessels, the air forces were the main effort there.
After 2001, New Zealand became involved in the international campaign against al-Qaeda and troops were sent to Afghanistan. Members of the Special Air Services undertook long-range patrols to track and deal with al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters. The New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Teams deployed to Bamyan Province to help rebuild Afghanistan after the years of conflict it had undergone. In 2007, when Willie Apiata was awarded the first ‘Victoria Cross for New Zealand’, he became the only living New Zealander to hold the award.
At the end of this book is an appendix that lists all of the New Zealand Victoria Cross recipients. The other two appendices feature useful army and air force information.
BRITISH MILITARY HONOURS
The British medals and awards mentioned in this book are:
VC: The Victoria Cross, awarded to all ranks of any service for supreme courage in combat in the presence of the enemy.
DSO: The Distinguished Service Order was awarded mostly to senior officers, of any service, for courage or excellent planning and leadership. It was second only to the VC for officers.
DCM: The Distinguished Conduct Medal was awarded to army soldiers or non-commissioned officers for acts of courage or leadership. It was second only to the VC for these ranks.
DSC: The Distinguished Service Cross was awarded to junior naval officers for courage or leadership in combat. Sailors and non-commissioned officers would receive the medal, the DSM, for similar acts.
MC: The Military Cross was awarded to junior army officers for courage or leadership in combat. Soldiers and non-commissioned officers would receive the medal, the MM, for similar acts.
DFC: The Distinguished Flying Cross, available to air force officers for courage, leadership or flying exploits in combat. Airmen and non-commissioned officers would receive the medal, the DFM, for similar acts.
Bar: When a second award is made of the same decoration, it is called a bar. The second award is marked by wearing a bar on the medal ribbon. If only ribbons are being worn, the bar is normally shown by a rosette, except for the VC, which is shown by a second tiny replica of the medal itself.
MiD: A Mention in Despatches could be for any conduct or act the senior commander thought important enough to bring to higher attention. Before the VC this was the only other award that could be made to someone who had been killed, so many brave acts were recognised by this award. It is marked by a bronze oak-le
af emblem attached to any campaign ribbon.
THE IMPERIAL WARS
In the nineteenth century the United Kingdom (also called Great Britain) had the largest overseas empire in the world. Great Britain ruled over peoples and lands in Africa, the Indian sub-continent and Asia and across the Pacific, including Australia, New Zealand and Canada. However, British rule was not welcomed by all and nor were the British settlers and missionaries who came with it. Therefore there were numerous violent rebellions and small wars, which the United Kingdom usually dealt with by military force. These are referred to as Britain’s Imperial Wars. Both the New Zealand Wars and the Anglo-South African (Boer) Wars were part of the Imperial Wars.
THE NEW ZEALAND WARS
New Zealand’s First VC
CAPTAIN CHARLES HEAPHY
Charles Heaphy was born in London in 1822. He had trained at the Royal Academy as an artist before securing an appointment with the New Zealand Company as a draughtsman and surveyor. Charles arrived in New Zealand in 1839 aboard the Tory and subsequently made considerable explorations in the upper South Island and Wellington regions. The Heaphy Track was named after him.
Charles originally joined the militia in Nelson and, after moving to Auckland in 1859, enlisted as a private in the militia there. He was commissioned in 1863 and became captain of the Parnell Company in August that year. As a militia officer and the local surveyor, Charles was employed by General Duncan Cameron as a military surveyor and guide for the Waikato expedition of 1863. Initially his duties involved surveying the military road and the Waikato River channels, but eventually he was attached to the staff of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Havelock, VC, as a guide.
After the Battle of Rangiriri, which was the last position the Waikato tribes established in the good defensive terrain in the north of their territory, General Cameron’s forces were able to advance rapidly across the Waikato plains. By January 1864 they had come up to the new Māori positions at Pikopiko and Paterangi. During the build-up of the British forces, the fortifications were bombarded by artillery. Defending Māori retaliated by periodically ambushing isolated parties.
On 11 February, south of Paterangi, a party from the British 40th Regiment were bathing in a pool in the Mangapiko River when they came under heavy attack. British reinforcements soon came to help their men, including a dozen or so soldiers commanded by Captain Charles Heaphy of the Auckland Militia. Charles first led his group to prevent any more Māori from joining the ambushing party. In doing this he discovered the enemy reserve, who were guarding the route back to Paterangi. After beating this party off, he regrouped his men and moved on to the place of the ambush itself. Here they joined the fight. Even though the tribesmen still outnumbered the British soldiers, they were beaten back and so tried to escape. Private James Cussan followed them into the bush but was shot.
Heaphy and the remaining three men with him went to Cussan’s aid and were shot at. No one was wounded, although one bullet cut the shoulder strap holding up Heaphy’s revolver. Immediately following this, another group of tribesmen fired on them from only 4 metres and Heaphy was hit in the hip, arm and ribs. One of his men was killed and another, John McDoole, was wounded. Heaphy now had only Private Cooney to help him and although they couldn’t get to Cussan and McDoole, they did manage to provide enough covering fire to stop any tribesmen making any direct attacks on them with axes or other weapons. Unfortunately, McDoole died before he could be rescued and Cussan did so while being carried away.
The fighting continued for some time. Lieutenant Colonel Henry Havelock, the commander, ordered Charles to get his wounds treated, however Charles refused to do so. He remained in the field, guiding stretcher parties and assisting in the fight. Eventually the Forest Rangers, under Gustav von Tempsky, arrived and finally drove off the Māori.
The British commander, General Galloway, recommended Heaphy and a Sergeant O.L. Kenrick for VCs following this day’s fighting. Unfortunately, there was a problem. Although both Heaphy and Kenrick were under the command of a British officer; they were both members of the New Zealand Militia and not actually British soldiers. The authorities in London at the time took a strict view of the eligibility criteria and said no awards would be made, because locally raised militia were not included in the VC rules as they stood. The bureaucrats concerned believed that, unlike the British regular forces, the colonial government was in a position to reward its own troops through land grants and promotion.
Charles, however, was not happy to let matters drop. He still had quite powerful family connections in England and decided to pursue his case. He was supported in this by his British commanders, Cameron and Havelock, and by Governor George Grey, as well as the British Home Secretary, Lord Cardwell. Official opinion began to swing to the idea that the VC rules should be extended to cover locally raised forces under the command of regular British officers. Though nothing further was heard of Sergeant Kenrick’s nomination, Heaphy’s case was reconsidered. Queen Victoria granted an instrument (a legal document) on 1 January 1867 to allow the Victoria Cross to be conferred on personnel of the local forces of New Zealand, and Charles’ award was notified that day. Charles was also promoted to major for his actions, and became chief surveyor for New Zealand, before retiring to Australia.
Charles Heaphy’s VC is therefore very important for three reasons. Obviously, it was the first VC given to a member of the New Zealand forces. Second, it is the only VC awarded to a New Zealand soldier for service in New Zealand itself. Last, because of the rule change made for his case, VCs could be awarded to all future New Zealand soldiers, or those from other colonial forces, fighting under British command.
THE AFRICAN WARS
The VC and a Mystery
CAPTAIN CECIL D’ARCY
Henry Cecil Dudgeon D’Arcy was born at Whanganui in 1850, where his father, Oliver D’Arcy, a major in the British 65th Regiment, was posted there as part of the garrison. Cecil, as Henry was known, was the D’Arcys’ fifth son and seventh child. By 1860 the family had moved to South Africa where Oliver D’Arcy eventually transferred to the Cape Mounted Rifles and permanently settled in the garrison station King William’s Town.
Though he was born in and grew up on the British Empire’s frontiers, Cecil D’Arcy thought of himself as British, or in fact Anglo-Irish. Therefore he probably gave his New Zealand connection little thought. Oliver could not afford to purchase commissions for all his sons and so Cecil initially joined the Cape Colony’s public service. In 1877, during the various native risings that came before the Zulu War, he joined the Cape Frontier Light Horse as a private. He quickly rose to sergeant and was then made an officer. Like most of the young colonial men of his time, he simply accepted such military service as a necessary requirement of consolidating the empire, ensuring security and making a future for his family, while also providing the potential for action and adventure.
On 11 January 1879, the Cape Frontier Light Horse was part of General Lord Chelmsford’s advance into Zululand to enforce a British ultimatum on the Zulu king, Cetewayo. Chelmsford advanced his force in three widely dispersed columns. The central column’s infantry element was massacred when they were surprised at Isandlwana, and the remainder had to retreat via the post at Rorke’s Drift, which had managed to hold out. The right-flank column had also been effectively surrounded and had to be helped, which was not achieved until 4 April.
The Cape Frontier Light Horse was part of the left-flank column. On 28 March their commander had organised a 700-man mounted reconnaissance force. In the steep terrain at the base of the Hlobane Mountain, this group was ambushed by the Zulu and forced to conduct a disorganised fighting withdrawal. At one point the Frontier Light Horse was guarding the rear when several men were wounded and unhorsed. The men were vulnerable and some were captured by the Zulu. In all, six men were subsequently recommended for VCs for returning to rescue companions from certain death. D’Arcy’s original horse was killed but he managed to find another. Shortly after, he found a
wounded man and gave him that horse. He then attempted to make his own getaway on foot. He was given a couple of short rides before another officer finally picked him up and carried him back to safety.
Of the six men recommended for the VC, only D’Arcy missed out. Apparently the senior officers thought that because he was not a member of the imperial forces, he was not eligible. They didn’t seem to know that the rules had changed because of the Heaphy case. The decision not to award D’Arcy a VC was very unpopular with the soldiers from South Africa. He was, however, promoted to captain.
Chelmsford then pulled all his forces together and launched a second drive into Zululand. This time the advance was more careful. There was still danger from the watching Zulu warriors, who followed the invasion while avoiding getting into a full-on fight. By 3 July the British column of about 5200 men was approaching the Zulu royal kraal (an enclosure for livestock) at Ulundi. A strong contingent of mounted troops, including the Frontier Light Horse, was then sent on a final scouting patrol before the battle. They spotted a significant herd of goats being tended by young men and decided to bring the animals in. However, as the herdsmen were moving the goats away rapidly, the cavalry chased them. Almost too late the commander realised this was a trap and that the herders were warriors, not boys. The horsemen were being drawn into broken ground where very high grass slowed them down and made it hard for them to see much. The horsemen had stopped only 100 metres from where the ambush was to be sprung. An impi (a group of warriors) was hiding in the foliage and snares of knotted grass had been woven to bring down the horses.