The speech and photographs are available here.
The award is made to the person who has risked their life to undertake an outstanding act of heroism during the previous two calendar years, as determined by the Charles Upham Trust Committee. Nominations are called for each year from organisations such as the NZ Defence Force, NZ Police, NZ Fire Service, Civil Defence and the Surf Life Saving Association in addition to the public.
On 19 August 2011, Lance Corporal Smith was part of a NZSAS Task Force that responded to an insurgent attack on the British Council Office in Kabul, Afghanistan. Also present was Corporal Doug Grant, who was tragically killed during the incident.
During the response, Lance Corporal Smith had exposed himself to insurgent fire in order to confirm Corporal Grant’s location after he had been mortally wounded. He then ran across exposed and open ground in order to reach Corporal Grants location, and immediately started applying first aid until he could be evacuated.
Lance Corporal Smith was later killed in action on 28 September 2011.
Lance Corporal Smith is the 24th person to receive the Charles Upham Award for Bravery and the fourth member of the New Zealand Defence Force.
Background Information:
Lance Corporal Leon Smith enlisted into the New Zealand Army on 23 August 2005 and completed NZSAS Selection in 2006 and the NZSAS Basic Cycle of Training in 2007. He had previously served in Afghanistan with the NZSAS over the period January - October 2010 and started his second Tour of Duty in August 2011. He was killed in action on 28 September 2011.
The Charles Upham Award for Bravery:
The Charles Upham Award for Bravery stems from public recognition of the gallantry of Captain Charles Upham, VC and Bar. Shortly after World War 2, money which was originally raised by the people of Canterbury to purchase a farm for Captain Upham was declined by him and at his suggestion was used to fund scholarships for returned servicemen or their sons or daughters at the University of Canterbury or Lincoln College. The purpose of the original scholarship ran its natural course and in 1976 the Bravery Award was initiated. The Charles Upham Award for Bravery is made annually to the person, who, in the opinion of the Trust Committee, has, at risk to his or her own life, performed the most outstanding act of heroism during the previous two calendar years.Â
Previous Recipients of the Charles Upham Award for Bravery:
1981 Â Â Sgt Peter Stanley Burton, RNZAF Â Â
1982   Const Mark Gregory Davidson, NZ Police Â
1983 Â Â No award made
1984 Â Â Able Seaman David Daniel Douglas, RNZN Â
1985 Â Â Const Stephen Anthony Linney, NZ Police Â
1986   Mr James Anthony Gilligan, Civilian  Â
1987   Mr Stephan Ralph John Ching, Civilian  Â
1988   Mr Graeme John Finn, Civilian   Â
1989   Sgt John Akurangi, NZ Army   Â
1990 Â Â No award made
1991 Â Â Mr Joseph Boyd Goodwin, NZ Fire ServiceÂ
1992   Mr Ate Heineman, Civilian    Â
1993   Miss Jacinda Amey, Civilian   Â
1994   Mrs Evelyn Winslade, Civilian   Â
1995 Â Â Const Massey Vaughan Coffin, NZ Police Â
1996 Â Â Sgt Christopher Anthony Maude, NZ Police Â
1997 Â Â No award made
1998   Mr Craig Smart, Civilian    Â
1999   Mr Maurice Knowles, Civilian   Â
2000   Mr David Gibson, NZ Fire Service    Â
2001 Â Â No award made
2002   Ms Stacey Watson, Civilian   Â
2003   Mr John William Hare, Civilian   Â
2004   Mr Robert John Van Hale, Civilian  Â
2005   Mr Jamie Fisher, Civilian    Â
2006   Senior Sgt Alister Dickie, NZ Police  Â
2007 Â Â No award made
2008 Â Â No award made
2009 Â Â Const James Muir, NZ Police