NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST V.C.

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 24, 8 December 1939, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST V.C.

To the Editor, "The Listener" Sir,--New Zealand had the distinction of having had a Victoria Cross awarded to a member of its forces many years before the birth of Major Hardham, whom Robert Mintott claims to be New Zealand’s first V.C. Major Charles Heaphey of the New Zealand Colonial Defence Force was awarded that honour for conspicuous gallantry during the Maori War in the ’sixties. He was, I understand, the first soldier anywhere in the world outside the regular British Army to receive that honour. Major Heaphey was not born in New Zealand, however-he came to New Zealand as a young man in one of the New Zealand Company’s Survey ships in 1839 and died as a result of the wound he received in gaining his distinction about 1882. He was for many years a

judge of the Native Land Court in Wellington and was a well known resident there for over forty years. No other member of the New Zealand Colonial Defence Force received that honour during the Maori disturbances. The New Zealand Cross was struck and awarded to New Zealand soldiers for acts of conspicuous bravery, which under other circumstances would have entitled them to the Victoria Cross. The same distinction and gratuity were attached to the winning of the N.Z.C. as to that of the V.C. Amongst distingushed members of the New Zealand Forces to gain the N.Z.C. were Captain Mair, Major Roberts, Arthur Carkeek, Captain Northcroft and, I think, the late Rowley Hill who, up to a few years ago, was a well-known figure on all ceremonial parades in Auckland. Yours, etc.,

Turua, Hauraki Plains, November 25, 1939.

J.P.

S.