New Zealand's Military Heroism
New Zealand's Military Heroism

Author: Matthew Wright

Publisher: Raupo

Published: 2007-01-01

Total Pages: 238

ISBN-13: 9780790011547

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What could motivate someone to perform heroic deeds and endanger themselves? Noted military historian Matthew Wright offers a way of understanding our military heroism - and our changing popular view of courage. This illuminating analysis explores what courage meant to combatants and public alike. New Zealand's Military Heroism highlights some of the courageous Kiwis who fought in campaigns around the world, from New Zealand to South Africa, from the Western Front to the Pacific, and during the tumultuous years of the Cold War and beyond.

Battle for Crete
Battle for Crete

Author: Matthew Wright

Publisher:

Published: 2018-08-08

Total Pages: 120

ISBN-13: 9780908318162

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Confronting the might of the Luftwaffe! New Zealand soldiers arrived in Crete during early May 1941, short of equipment after a hasty evacuation from Greece. Three weeks later Germany invaded from the air, and the fate of New Zealand

Heroes of Gallipoli
Heroes of Gallipoli

Author: Richard Stowers, Sr.

Publisher:

Published: 2015-11-02

Total Pages: 440

ISBN-13: 9780994105950

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With the centenary of the First World War upon us in 2015, Richard Stowers has written this book to increase the awareness of the unpretentious gallantry and service by New Zealanders during the Gallipoli campaign. The book details the bravery and distinguished service of men and women of the 1st echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the Gallipoli campaign. In some ways those listed in the book were the lucky ones whose courage was officially recognised. Many more who did heroic acts were not so fortunate, and their actions were never officially recognised due to the fortunes of war. Often overshadowed by the exploits of the Australians who were awarded nine Victoria Crosses during the Gallipoli campaign, time and time again the New Zealanders were denied gallantry medals by their high command. New Zealand can be rightly proud of these men and women who did extraordinary deeds during times of danger, hardship and peril.

Soldiers, Scouts and Spies
Soldiers, Scouts and Spies

Author: Cliff Simons

Publisher: Massey University Press

Published: 2019-10-10

Total Pages: 581

ISBN-13: 0995123071

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A fascinating and detailed study of the major campaigns on the New Zealand Wars.As interest in the New Zealand Wars grows, Soldiers, Scouts andSpies offers a unique insight into the major campaigns fought between 1845 and 1864 by Britishtroops, their militia and Maori allies, and Maori iwi and coalitions.It was a time of rapid technological change. Maori were quick to adopt westernweaponry and evolve their tactics — and even political structures — as theylooked for ways to confront the might of the Imperial war machine. And Britain,despite being a military and economic super power, was challenged by a capableenemy in a difficult environment.This detailed examination of the Wars from a military perspective focuses onthe period of relatively conventional warfare before the increasingly &‘irregular'fighting of the late 1860s. It explains how and where the battles were fought, andtheir outcomes. Importantly, it also analyses the intelligence-gathering skills andprocesses of both British and Maori forces as each sought to understand andovercome their enemy.

Those Who Have the Courage
Those Who Have the Courage

Author: Matthew Wright

Publisher: Oratia Media Ltd

Published: 2024-06-17T00:00:00Z

Total Pages: 1057

ISBN-13: 199004266X

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‘Those Who Have the Courage will be a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in the military and social history of New Zealand. It is a comprehensive history of the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps, the Mounted Rifles and predecessor units ...’ — Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, from the Foreword The product of painstaking, multi-year research by esteemed historian and author Matthew Wright, this richly illustrated hardback is a must-have for the history reader. Part 1 covers the colonial cavalry that fought in the NZ Wars and Anglo-Boer War, then Part 2 moves to the Mounted Rifles distinguishing themselves in the First World War, at the end of which the tank came into play. Part 3 describes the Armoured Corps’ varied roles in the Second World War; Part 4 details what Wright calls an ‘armoured evolution’, through actions from the Korean War to Vietnam and Part 5 records action in East Timor and Afghanistan, and modern challenges, rounding out this readable story. The appendices include rolls of honour, lists of vehicles and organisational charts.

Willie Apiata VC
Willie Apiata VC

Author: Paul Little

Publisher: Penguin Books

Published: 2012-08-27

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 9780143010944

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'At 0900 on Sunday 01 July my CO handed me three letters to read. The first was from the Governor General, the second from the Prime Minister and the third was from the Minister of Defence. These letters informed me that I had been awarded the Victoria Cross for New Zealand (V.C.).' Cpl Bill (Willie) Apiata, V.C. Corporal Willie Apiata became the first New Zealander since the Second World War to be awarded the Commonwealth's highest military award for his actions with the NZ SAS in Afghanistan. From his early life in small town East Coast New Zealand to his actions in the deserts of Afghanistan, this is his story in his words. This book will not only establish the place of Corporal Apiata in New Zealand's history but will give an insight into the nature of a man who is truly a reluctant hero. While to most of us his actions seemed extraordinary and heroic, Corporal Apiata felt he was an ordinary Kiwi just 'doing his job'.

For King and Other Countries
For King and Other Countries

Author: Glyn Harper

Publisher: Chp

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780995102996

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When war was declared in August 1914, many New Zealanders were travelling or living abroad. In the rush to sign up to defend the Empire, it was often easier to enlist locally than travel back to New Zealand to join the NZEF. That's one of the reasons that more than ten thousand New Zealanders fought the First World War under other flags, in the military forces of other nations. If they are added to the total number of New Zealanders currently understood to have served, then New Zealand's contribution to the war effort becomes even more remarkable, but to date they have not been correctly enumerated, let alone included. These New Zealanders served with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), with British Army units, the Indian Army, the Canadian Expeditionary Force and the French Foreign Legion, and they include the considerable number of women who served with other nations' medical organisations. Leading military historian Glyn Harper has scoured archives and museums worldwide to show where and when these New Zealanders served, and to tell their remarkable - and sometimes surprising and tragic - stories for the first time. For King and Other Countries makes a unique contribution to our understanding of our military history.

Special Forces Heroes
Special Forces Heroes

Author: Michael Ashcroft

Publisher: Headline

Published: 2012-10-25

Total Pages: 255

ISBN-13: 0755364511

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This ebook edition contains the full text version as per the book. Doesn't include original photographic and illustrated material. This book tells the stories of forty heroes, all awarded bravery medals for their conduct during Special Forces missions over the last 150 years. Often covert hit-and-run operations involving very small numbers of highly skilled men, those who partake in these missions know that their goals involve a high level of risk. They are men who would die for their country, no questions asked. With many incredible stories, particularly from the Second World War, including the Cockleshell Heroes, and other conflicts from the twentieth century, such as the Iranian Embassy siege, this collection of real-life action adventure brings the bravery of Britain's heroes to life. Every medal in Lord Ashcroft's extensive collection tells a story and these are some of the most thrilling.

Penguin Book of New Zealanders at War
Penguin Book of New Zealanders at War

Author: Gavin McLean

Publisher: Penguin Random House New Zealand Limited

Published: 2009-08-31

Total Pages: 656

ISBN-13: 1742288766

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The New Zealand Wars of the 1840s and 1860s, other nineteenth-century military encounters, the South African War, the First and Second World Wars, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, the Gulf War, modern-day peacekeeping . . . The Penguin Book of New Zealanders at War contains the best, widest range of published and non-published written material on our people in warfare. This is a soldier's book - thus letters, diaries, journalists' reports, memoirs. The focus is on actual experience and on human responses to war. A vast array of personal experiences is covered, including POWs, the home front, medical/nursing efforts, as well as coverage of conscientious objectors.