Tinui soldier's medals return home

Masterton's Heaton Haglund (left), who funded the bid for Jack Dunn's World WarImedals, gifts them to Aratoi museum and the care of director Alice Hutchison. Photo / Lynda Feringa

It's not known how the World War I medals of Tinui man John "Jack" Dunn ended up in Australia, but that's not important now.

Aratoi museum, who successfully bid for the medals at a Sydney auction house last month, welcomed the medals into Wairarapa yesterday.

Director Alice Hutchison successfully fought off other bidders - believed to be Te Papa, Waiouru Army Museum, and representatives of Sir Peter Jackson - in a bidding war, backed up by Masterton benefactor Heaton Haglund.

"Yes, they have arrived safely," she said. "I called Heaton as soon as they arrived."

She said she had a slight concern when she tracked the package and it appeared to have been delivered at the weekend, but it turned out they were at the Post Office.

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"It's been thrilling to see them."

The medals are presented in "court style", meaning the ribbon is folded around thin board.

Jack Dunn was one of 28 New Zealand servicemen court-martialled during World War I, and the first New Zealand soldier to be sentenced to death.

He was court-martialled after falling asleep during sentry duty at Gallipoli, but the sentence was remitted owing to previous good conduct.

He died three days later on Chunuk Bair.

It is possible the ribbon has been replaced, but there's no doubt whose medals they are.

Dunn's name is clearly engraved on the rim of each medal.

Heaton Haglund previously told the Times-Age the medals were a "taonga" of Wairarapa and he wanted to see them returned home.

He funded the $5610 bid and gifted the medals to Aratoi on their arrival.

Ms Hutchison plans to put the medals on display for the Anzac Day commemorations at Tinui, but they will likely be placed safely in the collections store after that.

Aratoi ramped up their security after thief Sharnie Rimene stole a medal from a display case at Aratoi in November.

Ironically, he failed to turn up to court yesterday for sentencing, prompting an arrest warrant to be issued.

Ms Hutchison had prepared a victim impact statement for the court.