Possible Victoria Cross for firefight which killed two Kiwi
Dec 1, 2015 19:21:53 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 1, 2015 19:21:53 GMT 12
Possible Victoria Cross for firefight which killed two Kiwi soldiers
STACEY KIRK
Last updated 17:09, November 30 2015
Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone were killed in a firefight in Bamiyan province, Afghanistan, 2012.
Gallantry awards, including a possible Victoria Cross, for the Afghanistan battle in which two New Zealand soldiers lost their lives are expected to be announced later this week.
While the next round of defence medals is expected on Thursday, speculation is mounting some will be for actions in the Battle of Baghak, in which Lance Corporals Rory Malone, and Pralli Durrer were killed.
Another six Kiwi soldiers were wounded in the firefight in Afghanistan's Bamiyan province, in August 2012. It was the subject of a major court of inquiry the following year.
Images from the Battle of Baghak in which soldiers Rory Malone and Pralli Durrer lost their lives were released to Fairfax Media. The battle, in Afghanistan on August 4 2012, is the biggest firefight regular forces have been involved in since Vietnam.
It understood part of the holdup included considerations for the awarding of a Victoria Cross to one soldier for their actions in the field.
Regardless of whether a VC is awarded, it's understood several gallantry medals will be awarded.
Four gallantry awards make up the top group of medals that can be awarded to a military member, usually for extreme acts of bravery.
The Battle of Baghak was the subject of a major court inquiry, but while 15 citations for bravery were understood to have been made, no medals have yet been awarded.
Only 21 New Zealanders have ever been awarded a VC - the top award. The Victoria Cross for New Zealand was introduced in 1999 to replace the British Victoria Cross which had previously been awarded to New Zealand military personnel for outstanding gallantry.
Former SAS corporal Willia Apiata is New Zealand's only living recipient and was awarded the cross for saving a wounded comrade under fire in Afghanistan in 2004.
In the Battle of Baghak, two Afghan members of the special police were also killed, and 11 injured in the firefight in the north-east of the region.
Much of the final report of the Court of Inquiry into the battle has been witheld, but a number of soldiers had been put forward for recognition.
According to a source, as many as 15 citations for bravery were put forward with the inquiry recommending seven of those be awarded. All those names were redacted in the report.
It's understood five had been approved some time ago.
- Stuff
www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/74576879/Possible-Victoria-Cross-for-firefight-which-killed-two-Kiwi-soldiers?cid=app-iPad
STACEY KIRK
Last updated 17:09, November 30 2015
Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone were killed in a firefight in Bamiyan province, Afghanistan, 2012.
Gallantry awards, including a possible Victoria Cross, for the Afghanistan battle in which two New Zealand soldiers lost their lives are expected to be announced later this week.
While the next round of defence medals is expected on Thursday, speculation is mounting some will be for actions in the Battle of Baghak, in which Lance Corporals Rory Malone, and Pralli Durrer were killed.
Another six Kiwi soldiers were wounded in the firefight in Afghanistan's Bamiyan province, in August 2012. It was the subject of a major court of inquiry the following year.
Images from the Battle of Baghak in which soldiers Rory Malone and Pralli Durrer lost their lives were released to Fairfax Media. The battle, in Afghanistan on August 4 2012, is the biggest firefight regular forces have been involved in since Vietnam.
It understood part of the holdup included considerations for the awarding of a Victoria Cross to one soldier for their actions in the field.
Regardless of whether a VC is awarded, it's understood several gallantry medals will be awarded.
Four gallantry awards make up the top group of medals that can be awarded to a military member, usually for extreme acts of bravery.
The Battle of Baghak was the subject of a major court inquiry, but while 15 citations for bravery were understood to have been made, no medals have yet been awarded.
Only 21 New Zealanders have ever been awarded a VC - the top award. The Victoria Cross for New Zealand was introduced in 1999 to replace the British Victoria Cross which had previously been awarded to New Zealand military personnel for outstanding gallantry.
Former SAS corporal Willia Apiata is New Zealand's only living recipient and was awarded the cross for saving a wounded comrade under fire in Afghanistan in 2004.
In the Battle of Baghak, two Afghan members of the special police were also killed, and 11 injured in the firefight in the north-east of the region.
Much of the final report of the Court of Inquiry into the battle has been witheld, but a number of soldiers had been put forward for recognition.
According to a source, as many as 15 citations for bravery were put forward with the inquiry recommending seven of those be awarded. All those names were redacted in the report.
It's understood five had been approved some time ago.
- Stuff
www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/74576879/Possible-Victoria-Cross-for-firefight-which-killed-two-Kiwi-soldiers?cid=app-iPad
