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Putting the steps in process
The award of the Victoria Cross to a New Zealand soldier is of special significance to one man who stood quietly in the background when Corporal Apiata faced his first press conference.
July 2 was a proud day for former Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, now Chief Executive of the Government Communication Security Bureau.
Air Marshal Ferguson was CDF when the Afghanistan incident happened. He was in Afghanistan visiting NZDF personnel shortly after the incident, and met up with Special Forces personnel. It soon became apparent a significant event had happened.
“The wounded soldier had been evacuated to a hospital in Germany. The others wounded in the fire fight were still around, and I talked to them, and also saw one of the vehicles they managed to extract from the scene. I had a pretty good idea when I left Afghanistan that some significant acts of gallantry had happened.”
The former CDF thought for days about what he had been told.
He also received at that time several written accounts citing various brave acts by SAS personnel.
“I asked for more reports, especially from the unit’s Commanding Officer in Afghanistan. I also asked for as many eye witness accounts as could be obtained. I read them, and thought Willie Apiata’s actions were especially significant.”
But despite his extensive military background, nominating someone for a Victoria Cross was not within Air Marshal Ferguson’s experience. He wanted to make sure he was on the right track.
He was also mindful that this was a New Zealand (albeit with a British background) award being considered for a New Zealand citizen, and he was adamant advice came from this country. “It was a sovereignty issue. I wanted it to be a New Zealand recommendation.”
There is no one alive in New Zealand, however, who has been in the position of recommending someone for a VC.
He turned to two Royal New Zealand RSA senior executives with whom he had a long and trusting relationship.
“I discussed it with them, in strictest confidence of course. I told them everything I knew, and after a day or so they replied that if I were to recommend a VC be awarded, they would support me.”
He discussed the situation with the then-Chief of Army, Major General Jerry Mateparae, (now CDF) who concurred with his views. The team supporting the award of the VC was widened to include the Sergeant Major of the Army, WO 1 John Barclay, the SAS Commanding Officer, and his Regimental Sergeant Major.
The investigation into the incident was exhaustive. When one of the group had a question that couldn't be answered, the Commanding Officer of the SAS troop in Afghanistan was asked to try to find the answer.
Many eye-witness accounts were gathered, and while some were basic – it’s difficult to record every minute detail in the heat of a battle – they all agreed on what Willie Apiata had done.
“It was vital to me that the information we based our recommendation on was accurate. In the “fog and friction” of war that can be difficult, but in the end I was happy I had the correct information.”
Air Marshal Ferguson then approached the Prime Minister. who fully supported his proposal. The Governor General of the day, Dame Sylvia Cartwright was also informally informed.
The recommendation for the award of the VC was then taken up by the Honours Secretariat in the Prime Minster’s Department, who approached their counterparts at Buckingham Palace.
The Victoria Cross is the only award in the New Zealand Honours system where the Queen has preserved the absolute right to make sole judgement. ”As Queen of New Zealand she formally approves our various New Zealand honours and awards, but the Victoria Cross is her own judgement. This is reassuring as Her Majesty has more experience and knowledge of this award than anyone else.”
Air Marshal Ferguson says is he delighted Corporal Apiata has received the award. In his role within Defence, and prior to becoming CDF, he was closely involved with the reformation of the New Zealand military awards.
“There was talk at the time (in the 1990s) of getting rid of the Victoria Cross as an award for New Zealanders. I recommended to the then Chief of Defence Force that the NZDF join with the RNZRSA in recommending to the government of the day the retention of the Victoria Cross as the prime award for gallantry. No replacement would have held the same mana as the VC.”
As the last time the Victoria Cross had been awarded was during World War 2, the award, he says, had almost entered the realms of unattainability.
“I believed there was no point in a having an award unless it could be awarded occasionally, albeit rarely. The award to Corporal Apiata proves the award is very rare, very exceptional, but attainable by our soldiers, sailors and airmen and women. It isn't about Queen and country when you’re in that situation; it’s about looking after your mates, as Willie said.”
This page was last reviewed on 27 July 2007 and is current.
