RSA Badge for Unknown Warrior

	RNZRSA Chief Executive Pat Herbert with the solid gold RSA badge to be awarded to the Unknown Warrior.

For over 88 years the RSA Badge has been one of the most recognisable symbols seen in New Zealand. This week the RNZRSA will make its most unique and significant presentation of the Badge.

The RNZRSA will honour the Unknown Warrior on his return to New Zealand on 10 November with its most prestigious award - the RSA Badge in Gold - in remembrance of all those New Zealand servicemen and women who never returned. The award of this unique honour was unanimously endorsed by RSA delegates from around the country at their National Conference in June.

“It acknowledges the great depth of emotional attachment veterans have for the Unknown Warrior,” said RNZRSA National President John Campbell, a member of the New Zealand delegation sent to France to bring home the remains of the Unknown Warrior.

The Unknown Warrior will be the most significant recipient of the Badge in Gold in the 88 year history of the RSA. It was instituted in 1920 and its first recipient was the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII). Since then the list of distinguished recipients has grown to include King George VI and the current Queen’s Consort HRH Prince Philip, nine Governors-General, two New Zealand Prime Ministers and British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, famous military commanders, including Allenby, Birdwood, Freyberg, Godley, Kippenger, Montgomery, Park, and Russell, as well as many RSA members from the ranks who have rendered signal service to the Association and the veteran community in general. There are currently six living recipients of the Badge in Gold. Most noteworthy, however, whether one was a prince, prime minister or private, the prerequisite for being considered for this award has been returned service.

“The RSA Badge is such a fitting tribute because the Unknown Warrior paid the ultimate price for his service and now he is finally to return home,” said John Campbell. “The Unknown Warrior is one of us.”

The Badge in Gold will be presented to the Unknown Warrior at a special visitation by the RNZRSA National Executive Committee at the start of the Lying-in-State in the Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament Buildings, on 10 November at 1pm. The Badge in Gold will accompany the Unknown Warrior to the Memorial Service, the Military Funeral Procession, and the Interment Ceremony on 11 November and will eventually be housed in a special display at the National War Memorial.

The Badge in Gold was cast by the 100-year-old Wellington firm of Mayer & Toye, whom as Mayer and Kean won the contract to manufacture the first RSA Badge in December 1916, and continues today to produce the badges of the RSA.

The Badge in Gold for the Unknown Warrior was cast using the original die in the form of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, acknowledging that the Unknown Warrior was a comrade of the World War I founders of the RSA.

RNZRSA acknowledges Oceana Gold Limited as well as Newmont Waihi Gold Ltd for their generous donations of gold and the assistance of Mayer & Toye.