victoria cross

New Zealand and the Victoria Cross

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  The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest military decoration awarded for ‘valour in the face of the enemy’ to members of the armed forces of Commonwealth countries. A total of 22 VCs have been awarded to New Zealand military personnel, including two won by Charles Upham.

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• Page 2 – NZ Victoria Cross recipients

  List of the 21 New Zealand Victoria Cross recipients, with links to citations

• Page 3 – Victoria Cross recipients with NZ connection

  List of New Zealand-born servicemen and those with New Zealand connections who served in other forces.

• Page 5 – Further information

  List of information sources on New Zealand's Victoria Cross winners

1918: Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory

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  In 1918, a series of major German and Allied offensives broke the stalemate of trench warfare on the Western Front, resulting in the collapse of the German Army and the end of the war within the year. New Zealand units played an important part in the Allies' final push for victory.

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• Page 1 - 1918: spring offensive and advance to victoryIn 1918, a series of major German and Allied offensives broke the stalemate of trench warfare on the Western Front, resulting in the collapse of the German Army and the end of the

New Zealand and Le Quesnoy

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  It was the New Zealand Division's final action of the First World War. On 4 November 1918, just a week before the Armistice was signed, New Zealand troops stormed the walled French town of Le Quesnoy. The 90 men killed were among the last of the 12,483 who fell on the Western Front.

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• Page 2 - The liberation of Le QuesnoyThe capture of the French town of Le Quesnoy by the New Zealand Division on 4 November 1918 has special significance in New Zealand's military

British Empire

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  Key information and statistics about countries who fought as part of the British Empire during the First World War

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• Page 4 – Dominion of Canada

  Key information and statistics about Canada during the First World War

• Page 5 – British India

  Facts and statistics about India during the First World War

• Page 6 – Dominion of Newfoundland

  Key information and statistics about the Dominion of Newfoundland during the First World War

• Page 8 – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

  Key information and statistics about the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland during the First World War

Merchant marine

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  On 3 September New Zealand honours Merchant Navy Day. Here we explore the little-known but vital role played by the merchant marine during the First World War, when these civilian seafarers often found themselves in the front line of the war at sea.

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• Page 3 - The Otaki's epic battleMany Home boats were lost, especially in 1917-18 when Germany stepped up its submarine warfare against Allied commerce. One action stood out, an epic battle between the New

Passchendaele: fighting for Belgium

• Page 4 – After Passchendaele

  Military events in Belgium after the Passchendaele offensive of October 1917, including the failed attack at Polderhoek

War in Taranaki 1860-63

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  In March 1860 war broke out between Europeans and Māori in Taranaki following a dispute over the sale of land at Waitara. It was the beginning of a series of conflicts that would dog Taranaki for 21 years, claiming the lives of hundreds of people and leaving deep scars that persist to the present day.

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• Page 4 - Fighting beginsThe opening shots of the Taranaki War were fired at Kīngi's new pā, Te Kohia – also known as the ‘L’ pa because of its shape – on 17 March

Māori and the Second World War

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  Despite some opposition, nearly 16,000 Māori enlisted for service during the Second World War. By 1945, 28 (Maori) Battalion had became one of New Zealand's most celebrated and decorated units. But Māori contributed to the war effort in many different ways, at home and overseas.

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• Page 3 - AchievementsThe 28th (Maori) Battalion established a formidable reputation as one of New Zealand’s finest fighting

New Zealand's 19th-century wars

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  War changed the face of New Zealand in the 19th century. Many thousands of Māori died in the intertribal Musket Wars between the 1810s and the 1830s. There were more deaths during the New Zealand Wars of the 1840s to 1870s between some Māori and the Crown, which for many tribes had dire consequences.

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• Page 7 - The Victoria Cross and the NZ WarsThere were 15 recipients of the Victoria Cross and 23 of the New Zealand Cross for action during New Zealand’s 19th-century