A VICTORIA CROSS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 45, 7 October 1911, Page 5

A VICTORIA CROSS.

AN INTERESTING STORY,

(Per Press Association '

Auckland, October G

The only Victoria Cross won by a member of the volunteer Ibices of New Zealand has been hand-id to tho Mayor of Auckland for safe keeping in the Art Gallery. \Jmlev the will of the late All's Chari is Heaphy, the Victoria cross bestowed up m her husband, the late Major Charles Heaphy, was directed to remain in the custody of her brother (the hit 3 Mr W. ,H. Churton) and after that to be. handed over to the Auckland Art Gallery. The interesting memento was accordingly handed over to-day. Tire incident that led up to Major Heaphy receiving the cross occurred during the ; Waikato |M&.ori War. One' day a number of soldiers of the 40th Regiment were bathing in the Mangapiko river, when they were fired upon by ‘the enemy. • In the ■ non mg encounter Captain Heaphy was in the hottest part of the struggle, when - three soldiers fell. Captain Heaphy, while riding one of them, made a miraculous escape. He was slighdv. wounded, while his clothes were perforated with bullets.