Victoria Cross for NZ SAS soldier

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 2nd July 2007, 14:44

Congrates... but on the same token.. poor bugger..

yes I know just doing his job... but still to get a VC you have to go through some serious shit...

Knowing them (the SAS)they probably though just another traing day... oh wait you mean that was real.

Again congrats and repect

**Swoop** · 2nd July 2007, 15:31

Huge respect.

The commonwealths highest medal, not just NZ's.

**Chisanga** · 2nd July 2007, 16:29

I can't believe i'm saying this but props must also go to Helen Clark for okaying the Victoria Cross and not replacing it with a New Zealand specific decoration like what has been done with the honours that get given out these days.

Respect to Cpl. Apiata and his unit... you usually have to die to get one of these bits of metal.

**sAsLEX** · 2nd July 2007, 17:20

Originally Posted by Swoop

Huge respect.

The commonwealths highest medal, not just NZ's.

Originally Posted by Chisanga

I can't believe i'm saying this but props must also go to Helen Clark for okaying the Victoria Cross and not replacing it with a New Zealand specific decoration like what has been done with the honours that get given out these days.

Respect to Cpl. Apiata and his unit... you usually have to die to get one of these bits of metal.

The stuff report, yes I know generally rubbish reporting, was saying how the NZ VC was similar to the British one. I thought there was only one VC, originally cast from the metal of a Russian cannon captured at Svestapol??

Have talked to a few multiple DFC recipients and they all said the same as he did " Just doing our job."

**Paul in NZ** · 2nd July 2007, 18:39

Add my respect here too. These are not given out lightly... Well done that man!

**Marknz** · 2nd July 2007, 18:42

Good on 'im

**Dave Lobster** · 2nd July 2007, 21:36

I don't think he'll be buying his own beer for a little while!!

**Colapop** · 2nd July 2007, 21:57

And when his grandchildren ask him about it, he'll just say "It was a long time ago..."

**Pussy** · 2nd July 2007, 23:22

Originally Posted by Colapop

And when his grandchildren ask him about it, he'll just say "It was a long time ago..."

Yep, saw Cpl Apiata on TV tonight.... quite a humble response. This country could do with some more of his calibre. I am VERY proud of him

**lti** · 3rd July 2007, 00:17

I can't believe i'm saying this but props must also go to Helen Clark for okaying the Victoria Cross and not replacing it with a New Zealand specific decoration like what has been done with the honours that get given out these days.

She did replace it.
She replaced it with the New Zealand Victoria Cross. It looks exactly the same, but it is a NZ honour, not a British or Commonwealth honour.

This is the first time it has been awarded.

The commonwealths highest medal, not just NZ's.

While the NZ VC is equal to the British VC, it is not the same medal.

**slopster** · 3rd July 2007, 01:29

New zealand vc is a seperate award to the VC however the medal is identical cast from the same cannons made by the same jewelers in london

**sAsLEX** · 3rd July 2007, 02:30

Originally Posted by slopster

New zealand vc is a seperate award to the VC however the medal is identical cast from the same cannons made by the same jewelers in london

Pretty sure they have run out of the metal now...... well thats what it says in Rupe VC barracks over here.

Oh and Wikipedia has also updated with the inclusion of this latest VC.

**Dave Lobster** · 3rd July 2007, 07:24

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

Pretty sure they have run out of the metal now...... well thats what it says in Rupe VC barracks over here.

Not so.. There was a documentary Jeremy Clarkson did about a VC winner from the Isle of Mann. He was his father in law, but he died before he met the daughter.
It showed the lump of metal they use. There's plenty left.. And at the rate they're given out these days, it'll last a few hundred years yet. There's only been a handful since WW2.

**sAsLEX** · 3rd July 2007, 07:26

Originally Posted by Dave Lobster

Not so.. There was a documentary Jeremy Clarkson did about a VC winner from the Isle of Mann. He was his father in law, but he died before he met the daughter.
It showed the lump of metal they use. There's plenty left.. And at the rate they're given out these days, it'll last a few hundred years yet. There's only been a handful since WW2.

Might be more to the story....http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...2/28/nvc28.xml

Oh and what service was the first VC recipient in?