NEW ZEALAND AWARDS
The Pioneer Cross / The New Zealand Cross of Merit
The Legion Distinguished Service Cross
HISTORY
When this award was concieved it was meant to be the most prestigeous medal awardable by the Legion of Frontiersmen, and when worn, was to take presidence over all other New Zealand Command awards.
Only a very small number of these medals were awarded before it was taken off the books in 1984 for reasons unknown, and replaced with an almost identical New Zealand Cross of MeritThe design of these two awards was the same, a silver cross patee 36mm wide and bearing in the centre the Legion badge surrounded by a laurel wreath, the reverse of the medals being blank for the inscribing of the recipients detailsThe ribbon was identical to that of the wartime Pacific Star except that the central stripe was white and not yellow. The award was to be suspended from a buckle type clasp to the uniform.The Pioneer Cross is recognisable by the words 'PIONEER CROSS' on the medal suspension bar and the New Zealand Cross of Merit by the letter 'N.Z.C.M' on the suspension bar. It appears that this 'New Zealand Cross of Merit' award went into disuse not long after it was bought in and very few were awarded. Only three Crosses of Merit medals were known to have been struck and only two of these awarded.In the proposed changes that were to take place in 1995-6, the Legion Distinguished Service Cross was bought in by the then Commandant General. This award was to be the new premiere award for the legion. The ribbon was dark green and the suspension was a single narrow bar. Only two members were ever awarded this medal.At the 2006 Conference there was remitted a set of regulations for the reinstatement of the New Zealand Pioneer Cross, as mentioned below. This was done after the original dies were said to have been located for the first Pioneer Cross. This new Pioneer Cross is therefore identical to that of the original award from the 1970's and is currently that which is being awarded.THE LEGION DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS 1996
This award was meant to be the most prestigious award in the Legion when it was bought into being at the time of the 1995-6 unification. In the end there were ever only two of these awards ever made and both to members of the New Zealand Command.
THE NEW ZEALAND PIONEER CROSS 2006
Regulations
1The Legion of Frontiersmen (New Zealand) Command has reinstituted the New Zealand Pioneer Cross in order to recognise exceptional and exemplary service to the New Zealand Command.
The Legion of Frontiersmen (New Zealand) Command has reinstituted the New Zealand Pioneer Cross in order to recognise exceptional and exemplary service to the New Zealand Command.2The award will be properly known as the "New Zealand Pioneer Cross" which is described as a silver Maltese cross 32mm in diameter with a central representation of the Legion Badge.
The award will be properly known as the "New Zealand Pioneer Cross" which is described as a silver Maltese cross 32mm in diameter with a central representation of the Legion Badge.3The Medal is suspended from a bar suspension and a 36mm ribbon still to be designed.
The Medal is suspended from a bar suspension and a 36mm ribbon still to be designed.4The Medal will be worn on the left breast pocket of the Legion Uniform in accordance with the New Zealand Command Order of Wear.
The Medal will be worn on the left breast pocket of the Legion Uniform in accordance with the New Zealand Command Order of Wear.5The recipient will be entitled to the post nominal "NZPC".
The recipient will be entitled to the post nominal "NZPC". 6There shall be no more than one award made in any one calendar year. No more than 5 living members of New Zealand Command can be holders of this award at any one time. Years of non-issue cannot be accumulated.
There shall be no more than one award made in any one calendar year. No more than 5 living members of New Zealand Command can be holders of this award at any one time. Years of non-issue cannot be accumulated.7In uniform when ribbons only are worn, the wearing of a ribbon bar shall denote the award.
In uniform when ribbons only are worn, the wearing of a ribbon bar shall denote the award.8Those to whom the Medal is awarded may wear Miniature Medals on appropriate occasions.
Those to whom the Medal is awarded may wear Miniature Medals on appropriate occasions. 9Subject to these Regulations, the New Zealand Pioneer Cross is awarded by the Commandant, upon the recommendation of a Unit Commander, to a person, who is a member of the Legion of Frontiersmen (New Zealand) Command, and who has rendered Continuous, Exceptional and Exemplary service to the New Zealand Command for a minimum period of twenty five years.
Subject to these Regulations, the New Zealand Pioneer Cross is awarded by the Commandant, upon the recommendation of a Unit Commander, to a person, who is a member of the Legion of Frontiersmen (New Zealand) Command, and who has rendered Continuous, Exceptional and Exemplary service to the New Zealand Command for a minimum period of twenty five years.AWARD RECIPIENTS
Pioneer Cross
299 DOUGLAS Edward Herbert [1972]
343 REICHARDT Frederick [1972]
484 COOPER Jack [1972]
752 PUKLOWSKI Allan Frederick [1973]
823 DALE Frank Kenneth Charles [1974]
1066 GEAR Royal Albert [1974]
25809 WOOLDRIDGE Leslie Roy [1974]
25937 POWELL George Lawrence Sinclair [1974]
1466 DOWMAN Graham Ronald [1977]
801 FUNNELL David Spencer [1978]
913 BAKER Douglas John [1978]
25966 McIVOR Cyril Ferdinand [1978]
20972 CLEVELY James William Squire [1982]
27547 BURLING Louis Ronald Henry Burns
1312 WALKER David
New Zealand Cross of Merit
913 BAKER Douglas John
BEATTIE Sir David (Patron) [1984]
SHOOSMITH Philip (UK)
Legion Distinguished Service Cross
1106 HAMMOND Raymond [1997]
1242 SOMMERVILLE Charles O'Neil [1997]
New Zealand Pioneer Cross (2006)
3019 NELSON Donald Padgett [2008]
1656 KANE John Patrick [2012]
1850 PARRISH Neil John [2016]
2126 MYERS Arthur [2019]
3689 HAMBLIN Murray [2021]
