Image from www.army.mil.nz

Editorial 22 May 2008

Many of you will have watched the Anzac Day documentary about Willie Apiata who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in Afghanistan in April 2004 while serving with the SAS. Lance Corporal Apiata carried a critically injured soldier 70 metres uphill to medical help, all the while exposed to enemy fire (rocket propelled grenades, machine gun fire and small arms fire), as well as heading into the face of returning fire from the main SAS position. His path was also dangerously illuminated by one of their own vehicles being on fire. How he and the rescued soldier weren’t killed or further injured is a great wonder.

The Victoria Cross is the highest recognition for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of the armed forces of Commonwealth countries. Two of the criteria for winning the VC are that there must be a 90% chance of becoming a casualty, and the actions of the person must have made a material difference to the success of the engagement. In this action the SAS were eventually able to drive off their attackers, even though they were outnumbered almost two to one, and the injured soldier made a full recovery. Without being rescued, he would almost certainly have died.

The documentary brought out many of Willie Apiata’s admirable qualities, but one of the most touching was his selflessness in gifting his Victoria Cross medal to the people of New Zealand. As part of the gifting process his solicitor pointed out that the VC could well prove to be the most valuable possession he would ever own. However, Willie Apiata was adamant that the medal should belong to New Zealand and that it should be housed at the SAS headquarters. His reasons? One motivation was that he felt it didn’t belong to just him, it belonged to all his fellow soldiers. At least as important a motive was his determination that the VC would never be the cause of any future quarrels in his family.

His love for his family and commitment to preserving good family relationships into the future showed amazing wisdom and self sacrifice. If any quarrels did occur it would likely be long after his death and wouldn’t affect him personally, which makes his foresight and unselfish attitude even more amazing. I was gratified to hear that Willie, his son and his son’s future offspring have the right to wear the VC on ceremonial occasions.