War widow's hopes for return of missing medals

A photo of Lieutenant Norman W Sarney, with the replacement set of miniature medals. Photo / Hannah Sarney

A war widow is hoping families dusting off old relatives' medals amid interest in the Gallipoli centenary will help solve a decade-long mystery.

Lieutenant Norman W Sarney was a Territorial Army veteran of the New Zealand Engineers who rose to the rank of company sergeant major.

In 1937, he was selected to attend King George VI's Coronation in London and later served in the Pacific in World War II.

When he died in 1970, aged 60, his seven war medals were bequeathed to his beloved wife of 29 years, Daphne.

The medals were a source of pride for the Sarney family, taken to school by grandchildren for Anzac Day commemorations and to show friends.

But around 12 years ago, the medals, which were mounted on a bar, never came home.

Mr Sarney's widow - who remarried in 1995 and became Mrs Savage - advertised in the local newspaper and asked around but the medals have never been seen since.

Now she's hoping the current interest in military history and Gallipoli centenary might mean someone uncovers them.

DO YOU KNOW MORE? EMAIL US HERE

"The 1937 Coronation medal is particularly unusual and very special for the family," said 92-year-old Mrs Savage, who lives in Milford, Auckland.

"I appreciate it's a real needle in a haystack, but I thought somebody might look at what medals they had and come across them."

Mrs Savage thinks one of the medals -- perhaps the Coronation medal -- has Mr Sarney's name engraved on its sides.

The New Zealand Defence Force has given the family a replacement set of miniatures but Mrs Savage dearly wants the return of the original family heirlooms.

"I'd very much like the family to have them back."