Best and bravest: Kiwis awarded the Victoria Cross

by Glyn Harper & Colin Richardson. HarperCollins Publishers, 2006.

The recent raid on the Waiouru Army Museum has put war medals in the spotlight right now. Here are the stories of the 26 men who won the highest military honour our country can award. Only a few of the names will be known to most New Zealanders, but all of the stories are part of our kiwi heritage, and deserve to be known. Glyn and Colin have done a superb job of introducing these fighting heroes of the First and Second World Wars to young readers. This is an ideal read for all those who enjoy true adventure stories – boys are often attracted to this kind of book – and it will also be a valuable asset every year as Anzac Day comes around, and we focus once again on New Zealand’s history touched by war.

Reviewed by Pamela