New Zealand War Medal Explained

New Zealand War Medal
Type:Campaign medal
Presenter:United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Eligibility:British and Colonial forces
Awarded For:Campaign service
Campaign:New Zealand Wars
(1845–47, 1860–66)
Description:Silver disk, 36 mm in diameter
Established:1869
Total Recipients:4,400
Related:New Zealand Cross for bravery

The New Zealand War Medal was a campaign medal authorised in 1869 to be awarded to Imperial and Colonial troops involved in the New Zealand Wars of 1845–47 and 1860–66. The New Zealand Wars were previously known as the Māori Wars, Anglo-Māori Wars or Land Wars.

Imperial forces included British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The Colonial militia were recruited both locally and in Australia, and included mobile forces like Von Tempsky's Forest Rangers and the Arawa Flying Column from a Māori tribe for the guerrilla war in the New Zealand bush.

For Imperial forces, it was awarded to those "who actually served in the field against the enemy in New Zealand".[1] [2]

The medal was granted to Colonial Forces and Friendly natives who had "been actually under fire, or otherwise conspicuous for distinguished service in the field," and also to nearest relatives of anyone killed in action or who had died of his wounds. Claims from Colonial forces were closed in 1900 but reopened in 1910 and 1913 in association with land claims for service in the war. Claims were finally closed for Europeans in 1915 and Māori in 1916.

Description

The medal is silver, circular, 36mm in diameter and with a straight bar suspender ornamented with New Zealand fern fronds.[3] The medal was designed by the brothers A. B. and J. S. Wyon.[4]

The obverse shows an effigy of Queen Victoria, facing left and wearing a diadem and veil, with the legend: VICTORIA D: G: BRITT : REG : F : D : The bust is similar to, but larger than, that on the Abyssinian Medal issued in the same year.

The reverse has a laurel wreath containing the year or years between which the recipient served, with the words NEW ZEALAND above and VIRTUTIS HONOR (Honour of valour) below. Generally Colonial militia medals are undated, as were some to Imperial forces. The year(s) of service, within the period 1845 to 1866, were shown over three lines, for example: 1863 / to / 1865. Uniquely for a British campaign medal, the years are die struck in the centre.[4] The longest period shown on an awarded medal was "1846 to 1865", of which only one was bestowed, while unawarded specimens are known bearing the dates "1846 to 1866".[4]

The rim of the medal was impressed with the recipient's number, name, regiment and – for those above private – their rank. Some medals with an undated reverse also have the relevant years of service engraved on the rim.[4]

The ribbon, 1.25inches wide, is of blue with a 10 mm red centre stripe.[4]

No clasps (bars) were issued.[5]

Number issued

The number struck was 1,957 (Imperial government) and 2,500 (Colonial government), total 4,457, of which about 4,400 were issued.
The New Zealand Ministry of Defence retained a few unclaimed medals, some of which they sold in the 1960s marked "specimen" and with the name of the recipient obliterated.[4]

See also

Dennerly . Peter Y. . The New Zealand War Medal: Awards to Colonial Units . The Volunteers: The Journal of the New Zealand Military Historical Society . 12 . 4 . May 1986 . New Zealand Military Historical Society.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Horse Guards' General Order 17 of 1 March 1869 . Journal of the Orders & Medals Research Society . 58 . 1 . 18 . March 2019 .
  2. Web site: New Zealand War Medals . Papers Past . National Library of New zealand . 11 January 2024.
  3. Book: Mussell . John W. . Medal Yearbook 2015 . Token Publishing Limited . Honiton, Devon . 147 . 2015.
  4. Book: Joslin . E. C. . Litherland . A. R. . Simpkin . B. T. . British Battles and Medals . Spink & Son Ltd . London . 1988 . 9780907605256.
  5. Book: Dorling, Taprell . Ribbons and Medals . A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd . London . 1956 . 62.