More honours for Nancy Wake, except NZ Govt
June 4th, 2010 at 2:00 pm by David FarrarThe Dom Post reports:
Wellington-born Nancy Wake – aka The White Mouse – was the Allies’ most decorated servicewoman of World War II, and the Gestapo’s most-wanted person.
Now she has been recognised with a new “heritage pylon”, unveiled by Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast in Oriental Pde yesterday.
Ms Wake, who was born in Roseneath but left New Zealand as a toddler, was living in France when Nazi Germany invaded during World War II. She joined the French Resistance and was smuggled to England for specialist training.
In 1944 she was parachuted back into France, where she co-ordinated the efforts of thousands of fighters and fought alongside them.
Ms Wake – codenamed the “The White Mouse” because of her ability to elude capture – at one point was No 1 on the Gestapo’s most wanted list, with an offer of five million francs for anyone who dobbed her in – or killed her.
In London, in 2006, she was presented with the New Zealand Returned Services Association’s Badge in Gold and life membership, for her services in the Special Operations Executive during the war. It was the first time her work was recognised by her country of birth.
She was, however, already the Allies’ most decorated servicewoman, collecting bravery awards from France, England, Australia and the United States. Ms Wake, now 97, lives in England.
Sadly the NZ Government still refuses to grant Wake an honour. I’m pretty dismayed that the powers that be seem to have got captured by officials who are more worried about the precedent an honour would create, rather than see it as an opportunity to honour an amazing woman who gave up a life of luxury and privilege to fight evil. The reality is that if NZ did grant Wake an honour, it would be in fact NZ gaining more doing so – proudly claiming Wake as a Kiwi. And Wake herself has been reported as saying she still has her NZ passport, and considers herself more Kiwi than Aussie.
Good on Wellington City Council for honouring Nancy Wake. Maybe that will shame the New Zealand Government into doing the same.
Tags: nancy wake
June 4th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
It just seems plain strange NZ haven’t granted an honour. There has to be a better reason than bad precedent?
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
A truly awesome lady, Peter Fitzsimmons has written a fairly useful recent biography of her and she has been a fantastic interview in the past, likes a drop and can talk all day.
its disgraceful she has never been recognised here when an army of political bludgers and jurists have been given honours
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
A hero.
But there’s an aspect of “me too!” “me too!” in the country she left as a toddler clamouring to add gongs of their own, which is unattractive and even detracts something in my opinion.
Her heroism was done in France, with the French, and for the betterment of the French. Let them honour her, I am sure their recognition means far more to her than any nice words NZ could offer.
I would rather see some sort of monument to individual NZ war heroes in this country, to inspire and remind the rest of us. Say, a row of brass statues of Nancy Wake, Sir Keith Park, et al on the Wellington Waterfront or Devonport’s North Head or the likes.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
She sounds like a great person, but I think the NZ link is tenuous.
PowerLine were discussing a similar situation today with a US “citizen” killed on the flotilla. He was born in the US to Turkish parents who all returned to Turkey when he was 2 years old. Should the US government react differently to his death because he was born and had his nappies changed in the States? I don’t think so.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
What do you expect from a country that has Jonathon Hunt as one of our greatest living heroes.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Reading her biography, I’m starting to think that “Wake herself has been reported as saying she still has her NZ passport, and considers herself more Kiwi than Aussie” might have just been her being nice to a NZ interviewer. She spent 2 years in NZ at an age when you typically don’t have any memories and aren’t too good at walking or talking. On the other hand she grew up in Australia, went to school in Australia, and spent most of the post war years in Australia where she was involved in Australian politics. She has lived in the UK off and on. The idea that the first two years of her life (determined by chance) was more important than the rest of her life (determined by her own decisions) sounds absurd. Surely she was just humouring an interviewer who was looking for her to say something nice about NZ.
[DPF: I think it is more she had big grudge against the Australian Government, which is why she accentuated her Kiwi origins]
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
The Nancy Wake National walkway… for those who like to escape.. could be a way out for the government.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
I read her bio and have some others.
Vote:No matter their nationality, gender, they deserve our undying praise for all they did and put up with.
That’s why Anzac Day is special, not to Glory war but to remember those who gave their lives and life’s (emotional, material,family) for those of us who came after.
I am grateful that so many stood up when needed.
June 4th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Just out of interest opinion about Wake amongst historians is less dfavourable than the usual she was a hero reaction.
She was certainly brave, but the results of her actions were questionable and led to many civilian deaths. Thats not my opinion, just the consensus of people who are military historians.
This is of course not actually a consideration for the NZ government anyway. As John pointed out we think Jonathon Hunt is one of our greatest. Pretty sad really.
In my opinion she should be given some form of offical recognition even if only in a representative manner of all the New Zealanders who fought during the second world war out of uniform and at great personal risk.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
What undesirable precedent would it set?
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
It opens the door for others to claim decorations. As with Manahi who should have gotten a VC but didn’t and couldn’t be given one later because the Queen had closed off any additional awards of the VC for WWII.
You suddenly find every man and his dog there claiming uncle Bob should have gotten something. In reality most awards are a raffel. First you have to live through to the completion of your act. As Upham said he didn;t do anything that a ,ot of other guys did, he was just lukcy enough not to get killed doing it. Then you have to do it in front of someone who is in a position of authority. Lloyd Trigg for example got one because the skipper of the sub he sank survived and reported the action. Trigg and his crew were toast by then.
A lot of people earned decorations but didn’t get them. Playing a big game of revisionism 70 years later isn;t entirely constructive.
Thats why I siad a representive award is my prefered option.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Its’ another example of National being the same as Labour.. I think in opposition some prominent members did state that the would see that WAKE was recognised once they gained office. The continued refusal to implement the will of the majority of New Zealanders and honour our greatest heroine is despicable.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Anyone who caused so much grief to the gestapo in occupied France and survived, needed 3 essential qualities: luck, in spades, wits and cunning, and the enduring loyalty of her comrades. Nancy Wake had these along with a hatred of the excesses of Nazi Germany,contempt for the colaborators,an understanding of the pressure, peoples actions of defiance created and the love of her husband whose death she only learned about some time after his murder.
Vote:Her exploits, courage, dedication and focus during the war were truly incredible and had many of them have been conducted by a member of a comonwealth forces member would have gone close to the highest awards for bravery. IMO it is a travesty that she has not had an official NZ government recognition by way of an honour.
June 4th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Talk to Heather Roy. Should be in her area of interest.
And you’re actually going to have to justify the greatest heroine thing. Hyperboleis never helpful in these situations.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
I don’t understand this. Why would it be a bad precident to honour her?
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
See above, I answered that one.
Not saying I agree with it but thats the thinking. It opens the flood gates to retroactive awards.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
I understand that eligibility for WWII medals/service closed in the 1960s or something, and the bureaucrats say we have to follow the rules rather than change them.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Which is why I think a current representative recognition would be apropriate. Same with William Malone.
BTW his statue is being unvelied in Stratford Aug 8th. Wouldn’t mind a ride if anyone is going that way.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Point taken DPF but there are many other awards she could be given, For outstanding services to freedom for one.
[DPF: Oh I agree. I don't care what the award is. I just think the NZG should do something while she is alive]
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
RRM (2265) Says:
June 4th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Her heroism was done in France, with the French, and for the betterment of the French. Let them honour her, I am sure their recognition means far more to her than any nice words NZ could offer.
***********************************************
And you know her feelings on this because you asked her about it?
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Great post DPF, do you have any idea why this hasn’t been addressed in the past, like in, e.g. the fifties?
For those interested, there’s a great book in better 2nd hand stores that tells the story of Wing Commander Yeo-Thomas (Kenneth More). The White Rabbit. He got captured and spent a year+ in a camp before escaping from the death march East.
Thank you Nancy. We owe you everything.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
But there’s an aspect of “me too!” “me too!” in the country she left as a toddler clamouring to add gongs of their own, which is unattractive and even detracts something in my opinion.
Doesn’t make her less of a Kiwi dickhead.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
But that is the point for me Bevan.
How much of a Kiwi is she really?, she has not lived here since she was a toddler.
This is nothing more than our cringe worthy inferiority complex raising its head again, sure the lady in question may publicly profess a great love for NZ but the reality is that she has not been a Kiwi for a bloody long time.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
You’re completely right bb.
It’s an honour thing though isn’t it. The country of one’s birth has a special place in anyone’s life, even if they left as an infant.
Vote:June 4th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
I have just been unsuccessfully searching for the book I had recently read on occupied France.
Vote:I recall that the book, which I cannot locate, damn it, had no mention of Nancy Wake.
This might be another example of a New Zealander’s exploits being over dramatized.
Peter Fitzsimons’ book on the Kokoda trail was chilling. Whereas some NZ rugby players are beer bottles (empty from the neck up) he’s not.
June 4th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Judith Collins was very vocal about getting a NZ honour for Nancy Wake – maybe she needs to tell the Honours Secretariat full steam ahead and damn the torpedo’s, she should be Dame Nancy Wake!
The Capital Times had a great article on her – a 5 million franc bounty on her, she bare-handed killed an SS guard by strangling him, and regrets that she didn’t kill more Nazis. She makes the Terminator look like a pussy.
Vote:June 5th, 2010 at 10:44 am
Jus tentirely out of interest how many of those of you arguing for Wakes elevation are familier with her exploits from actual study of them rather than just highlights from the media and her book?
If we are hanging out to honour people than those ragged assed grunts on the kokoda trail and the US Navy who fought at the Coral Sea with every expectation of taking a hiding should be the head of the list, because thats who stopped the Japanese. Wake just happened to be in Paris when the Germans showed up, pretty sure Auckland wasn;t on their tour plans.
Meanwhile the currency for the Japanese military government of New Zealand had already been printed.
Give it some thought.
Vote:June 6th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
I’m sure she’s been honoured by the royal family.
Something most NZ pollies haven’t.
J for jealously is usually the motive.
She’s a world achiever.
Something most NZ celebrities aren’t. Including very well known ones over many decades.
Better to be known outside of than inside lil NZ.
Vote:June 7th, 2010 at 9:57 am
“And Wake herself has been reported as saying she still has her NZ passport, and considers herself more Kiwi than Aussie.”
It seems to me that in every article about Nancy Wake I read in the NZ media, there will appear somewhere a comment like the above. Yet the accuracy of such a remark appears dubious, at least from what I’ve read -but I guess the theory being if you repeat something often enough …
I don’t really want to rain on the parade -those who have been campaigning for Nancy Wake to get a NZ honour are no doubt well meaning, but it would be good if they showed a little respect and not put words in her mouth. NZ can give Nancy Wake an honour but the aim of “claiming Wake as a Kiwi” that appears to be one of the main motivations behind the campaign speaks a lot of the NZ inferiority complex. It was after all only as a result of Peter Fitzsimons’ book that Wake become moderately well known in NZ, and that is only in the last decade or so.
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