28 April 2006

Nancy Wake recognised by RSA

National President John Campbell (left) with long-time campaigners to win recognition for Nancy Wake: The Rev Harvey Dalton (centre) and Trevor Morley.

Nancy Wake, code-named the ‘White Mouse’ by the Gestapo during World War Two, has been awarded the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association’s highest honour, its Badge in Gold and Life Membership.

Saboteur, resistance organiser and fighter, she led an army of 7000 Marqis troops in guerrilla warfare against the Nazis in France and was instrumental in the rescue, escape and repatriation of over 1000 Allied servicemen from behind enemy lines.

Born in Wellington in 1912, Nancy Wake is the Allies’ most decorated servicewoman being awarded the George Medal from Britain, Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, Croix de Guerre (twice) and Medaille de la Resistance from France, the Medal of Freedom with Palm from the United States, Companion of the Order of Australia - but nothing from her country of birth, New Zealand.

Australian War Memorial
Nancy Wake, 1943

RNZRSA National President John Campbell says we should remember that Nancy is a Kiwi and still holds a New Zealand passport.

Peter Fitzsimons in his biography of Nancy, states that her great-grandmother Pourewa was the first Maori to marry a white man, Charles Cossell. They were married by the Reverend William Williams at Waimate Mission Station on 26 October 1836.

“We believe the Year of the Veteran and RSA’s 90th birthday on 28 April is the perfect opportunity to recognise her heroism and impassioned fight for democracy against the German Third Reich,” says Mr Campbell, “and we are delighted that Nancy has expressed her pleasure in accepting the award.”

Mr Campbell says, the award is made on behalf of her peers, for her unselfish, unstinting service to her World War II comrades and signifies RNZRSA’s utmost respect and admiration.

“It is made in recognition and acknowledgement of the courage, bravery, tenacity, valour and gallantry shown by Nancy in the face tremendous adversity and personal danger.”

Nancy Wake is the first woman to join the very illustrious band of RNZRSA Badge in Gold holders. They include Sir Winston Churchill, Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma, Lieutenant General Lord Freyberg, Major General Sir Howard Kippenberger, two monarchs and the Duke of Edinburgh.

A recent granting of RNZRSA’s Badge in Gold was the posthumous award to New Zealand’s Unknown Warrior on his return home in 2004.

Related Link

New Zealand Warrior Heroes: Nancy Wake
www.nzedge.com/heroes/wake.html