22 AUGUST 2003

Seeking Next of Kin for Medal Presentation

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is seeking to locate family members of New Zealanders who lost their lives in post World War II military operations.

	New Zealand Operational Service Medal

Helen Clark and Mark Burton will present the New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM) to the next of kin of New Zealanders who were killed or died in military operations since 1945. NZDF, however, does not have next of kin details for all of the 120 New Zealanders who died in post World War II military operations. It is now seeking contact details for these family members.

In many cases next of kin listed in NZDF records have died, while others have changed their names through marriage. Those with a family member who died on operations since 1945, and who have not received an invitation to an NZOSM presentation, should contact:

Donald Anderson
Project Officer Medals Initiatives
Personnel Branch
Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force
Private Bag
Wellington

Tel: 04 498-6840
E-mail: donald.anderson2@nzdf.mil.nz

The NZOSM was recently instituted to recognise all New Zealand personnel who served our country in operations since 1945. The medal met a long-standing need for distinctive New Zealand recognition of operational service.

Medal presentations are likely to take place at two functions. The first will be at Parliament Buildings in Wellington on the afternoon of 3 September, and the second will be held in Auckland at a later date.

ROLL OF HONOUR

New Zealand personnel who have died on operational service since 3 September 1945 - for whom the New Zealand Defence Force does not hold contact details for the Next of Kin as at 20 August 2003:

Japan

(Service Number; Rank; Full Name; Date of Death)

636538 Sgt Andrew Clements Kirkpatrick 28 April 1946
651304 LCpl Peter Bernard Hale 4 September 1946
623018 Sgt David Gavin Rose 27 October 1946
815564 Cpl Alexander Keith McCoy 8 April 1948

Korea

203624 2 Lt Dennis Siddall Fielden 24 April 1951
34845 LCpl Frederick Terence Poynton 15 September 1951
207931 Gnr Allwyn Bailey 17 November 1951
208237 Sgmn Frank Osmond Percival 6 December 1951
33004 Cpl Gordon Brian Cook 26 May 1952
208405 Gnr Ray McDonald 15 November 1952
31360 Lt Robert James Unsworth 12 January 1953
204461 Gnr Eric James Griffiths 17 February 1953
208182 Cpl Frederick William Parker 17 March 1953
206204 Sgt Reginald James Reid 3 May 1953
33946 Gnr Ramon Deane Carson 6 June 1953
208875 Dvr Douglas Neville Rodgers 27 December 1953
208891 Dvr Colin Franklin Taylor 17 May 1954
NZ14651 Able Smn Dennis Waitapu 25 November 1955

Malaya/Malaysia

552227 Pte Brian James Tuxworth 30 June 1958
12879 Pte Robert Malcolm Breitmeyer 16 August 1958
38890 Pte Toma Feesaao Solia 10 December 1960
38797 Pte Bruce Harvey Hay 25 March 1961
79363 Flt Lt James William Southgate 30 November 1964
329603 Sgt Richard Edward Fry 6 June 1965

Vietnam

211075 Cpl George Kingi Hoerara 26 January 1968
43349 Pte Keith Richard Hurman 11 January 1969
42742 Pte Raymond Anthony Hawthorne 4 August 1969

Malcolm Riding (civilian) 12 March 1975
( Leader of the Sixth NZ Red Cross Welfare Team to South Vietnam)

If you are the next of kin of one of the persons on this list, or are acting on behalf of the individual’s family, please contact:

Donald Anderson
Project Officer Medals Initiatives
Personnel Branch
Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force
Private Bag
Wellington

Tel: 04 498-6840
E-mail: donald.anderson2@nzdf.mil.nz