Pride as Jayden receives his granddad's war medals

A 10-year-old boy left the Kaurihohore Cemetery at Kauri last week proudly wearing six medals awarded to his late grandfather, Sergeant Hori Hemi (George) Kiwi.

Jayden Brown had never met his granddad. Mr Kiwi died suddenly in Whangarei in 1995 while recovering from a stroke. He was aged 61.

Mr Kiwi is survived by his widow Bunny - whom he married while serving in Malaya in 1961 - and their two daughters, Cheryl and Careen. Jayden is Careen's son.

When he died, Mr Kiwi had been awarded only two general service medals but was entitled to more for his long service in Southeast Asia.

Northland District RSA president D'Arcy Bailey took the issue up with the Defence Force, found his late comrade had earned six medals, had them mounted and arranged for the highest ranking officer in the Whangarei district, retired Brigadier Harry Honnor, to present them to Mrs Kiwi at her late husband's graveside.

The handover took place at the Kaurihohore Cemetery on Friday. Mrs Kiwi had brought Jayden along because she wanted him to receive his grandfather's medals and the youngster had a wide and grateful grin after the gongs were pinned to his chest.

"It was a brilliant day. Jayden was so proud to wear the medals," Mr Bailey said.

Jayden attends Whananaki Primary School.

His mother is a social worker married to farmer Barry Brown.

The six medals are the New Zealand Operational Service Medal for service on operations since 1945, the General Service Medal for service in Malaya 1959-61, the NZ General Service Medal 1992 for service on the Thai border in 1963-65, the General Service Medal for service in Malaya 1963-65 with clasps for the Malaya peninsula and Borneo, the Defence Service Medal for three or more years service with clasps for CMT and regular, and the Pingat Jasa Malayasia Medal for service in Malaya and Singapore between 1957-66.

Mrs Kiwi said her late husband had been one of six children raised in the Taumarunui area, where their father had worked as a bushman.

George's brother Albert had also joined the army, reaching the rank of major, but he had been killed in a parachute accident in Australia.

George had been nicknamed "Mr Fitness" because he was involved in squash, rugby, athletics and Top Town in Whangarei before his death.

Mrs Kiwi said her family had followed her to New Zealand from Malaysia. She has a brother living in Wellington and a sister in Hamilton.