Wanganui Collegiate School student Jonathan Brumley will this year celebrate Anzac Day in a special way - at Gallipoli.
The Year 12 student won the national final of the National Bank RSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competition and is travelling with the New Zealand Defence contingent for Anzac Day.
Jonathan's
winning speech, "The Grave Injustice of Haane Manahi", paid tribute to Sergeant Haane Te Rauawa Manahi, of Ohinemutu at Rotorua, of the 28th Maori Battalion, who was recommended by four generals to receive the highest military honour, the Victoria Cross, but was instead given the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Sergeant Manahi fought at the Battle of Takrouna where he led his men up a lime escarpment to take the pinnacle from the enemy. Jonathan said his mother bought Dr Paul Moon's book about Sergeant Manahi.
"It was such an interesting topic, and because of the controversy around not being given the VC. I really hope he is given the VC posthumously," Jonathan said.
