The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest military decoration awarded for ‘valour in the face of the enemy’ to members of the armed forces of Commonwealth countries. It was introduced in 1856 by Queen Victoria to honour acts of valour during the Crimean War.
There were 15 recipients of the VC for bravery during New Zealand’s 19th-century wars. The first was Leading Seaman William Odgers of HMS Niger for his actions at Waireka in 1860 and the last was Hugh Shaw of the 18th Regiment for bravery at Nukumaru (near Whanganui) in 1865.
Originally the VC was not available to colonial troops, even those serving under British command. This restriction was removed in 1867 following a recommendation for recognition of the gallantry of colonial soldier Captain Charles Heaphy of the Auckland Volunteer Rifles at Waiari, near Te Awamutu, in 1864.
Instituted by the Governor of New Zealand by an Order in Council, dated 10 March 1869, it met an urgent need for some decoration equivalent to the Victoria Cross, for which the locally raised forces had been considered ineligible. The Governor, Sir George Bowen, conferred five of the crosses before notifying the Secretary of State for the Colonies of the unprecedented action he had taken. In his dispatch, the Governor pleaded the low morale of the local troops and the need for some tangible form of recognition for bravery in action, which could be awarded immediately and without the inevitable delays should each case be referred to the Home Government for royal approval.
The Governor was officially rebuked by Lord Granville, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, for overstepping the limits of the authority confided to him by the Queen, "who was the fountain of all honour".
As a number of crosses had already been conferred, Queen Victoria had little option under the circumstances but to ratify the Order in Council, which merely referred to the new award as a “Decorative Distinction” without giving it a name. The title, “New Zealand Cross”, was not adopted for some considerable time.
Even after its title had been settled, it was sometimes referred to as the New Zealand Cross of Valour, or the Order of Valour.
Of the 23 N.Z.C. conferred, two recipients were local Taranaki settlers...
Stage 1: Waireka cemetery Trooper Antonio Rodriquez de Sardinha, of the Taranaki Mounted Volunteers; Acts leading to conferment of NZC: 2 October 1863 at Poutoko, and 11 March 1864 at Kaitake, also twice mentioned in dispatches; conferred 11 May 1876.
Stage 2: Oakura cemetery Captain Francis Joseph Mace, of the Taranaki Militia whose deeds of 4 June 1863 at Kaitikara River, 11 March 1864 at Kaitake, and 20 October 1865 at Warea as well as being mentioned in dispatches eight times resulted in his conferment 11 May 1876.
The coordinates of the geocache is S 39° 06.ABC E 173° 57.XYZ
Stage 1: headstone of Antonio Rodriquez de Sardinha N.Z.C.:
6th line 2nd word = X letters
1st line 3rd word = Y letters
9th line 3rd word = Z letters
Stage 2: headstone of Rachael Alice:
date of death = ?A??
9th line, last word = B letters
age at death = ?C
Unfortunately the headstone of Francis Joseph Mace N.Z.C. is sadly in need of maintenance, hence the reason for using the headstone of his wife
Retrieved 31/01/2016 from URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/new-zealand-cross. 'NEW ZEALAND CROSS', from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 22-Apr-09.