Vietnam veteran winner of inaugural ANZAC award

Lieutenant Colonel John Milbanke Masters. Photo / FOTOPRESS / Ross Setford

The inaugural ANZAC of the year award has been won by a veteran of Borneo and Vietnam.

The award was presented to Lieutenant Colonel John Milbanke Masters ONZM MC JP by Prime Minister John Key.

It was created by the Returned Services' Association to recognise comradeship, compassion, courage and commitment.

RSA national president Robin Klitscher said Mr Masters served in the Army for 27 years and was awarded the Military Cross for rescuing a wounded Gurkha.

Mr Klitscher said Mr Masters also had the post as the seventh battery commander of the New Zealand Artillery Battery in Vietnam.

He said after Vietnam, Mr Masters helped raise money for the Rannerdale War Veterans home and also addressed the Health Select Committee on the effects of agent orange and other chemicals on Vietnam veterans.

- NZ Herald staff


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