Service dress uniform, New Zealand Special Air Service

This service dress uniform is significant because it was assembled for Corporal Willie Apiata VC, New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS), for the award of his Victoria Cross on 2 July 2007. Two uniforms were assembled the night before the announcement by Clive Robinson, New Zealand Defence Force Clothing Store Manager, in two different sizes. The jacket of this uniform was one size too big, so it became a spare set. It features all the badges, insignia and medal ribbons pertaining to Corporal Willie Apiata.

Corporal Apiata was awarded the Victoria Cross for New Zealand for displaying the highest order of personal courage under fire during a period of duty in Afghanistan in 2004.

New Zealand Special Air Service

The uniform also represents the work of the New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS). The NZSAS was formed in July 1955 and is a special forces unit of the New Zealand Defence Force, modelled on the British Special Air Service (SAS). Its key roles are to undertake overseas missions and respond to domestic terrorist attacks. The New Zealand SAS is held in high regard internationally, as demonstrated by the United States Presidential Citation which was awarded to the NZSAS in December 2004.

Details of the uniform

The beret harks back to the founding of the British SAS in the Second World War.  The sandy colour aids in desert camouflage. The badge symbolises the flaming sword Excalibur, King Arthur's legendary sword, and is inscribed with the motto 'Who Dares Wins'. The light blue of the badge represents Cambridge and the dark blue represents Oxford, as there were representatives from both Oxford and Cambridge boat racing crews in the original British SAS.

The SAS Wings were taken from an Egyptian scroll depicting the sacred ibis bird with its wings outstretched. The bird's body was replaced with a parachute.