Remains of NZ military personnel sent to Wardieburn Camp

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The remains of the seven New Zealand airforce personnel given the last honour rite at Taiping Station Staff Headquarters. — Bernama photo

TAIPING: Seven skeletons of personnel of the New Zealand Air Force at the Kamunting Commonwealth War Cemetery (CWG), here were honoured in a ceremony held at the Taiping Station Staff Headquarters (MSS) here yesterday.

The last honour rite was held in conjunction with ‘Send-Off Op Te Auraki’ where all the skeletons from MSS, Taiping were sent to Wardieburn Camp, Kuala Lumpur.

The skeletons belong to Corporal Lans Teriwhero Percy, 26; Private Robot Malcolm, 27; Private Bruce Harvey, 21; Private Toma Feesago, 29; Private Brian James, 23; The Lightweight, 23, and George Whitelock, 27.

The ceremony was led by an officer and 39 members of other ranks from the Taiping Garrison.

The seven coffins would be placed temporarily at the Wardieburn Hall, Wardieburn Camp before being handed over to the New Zealand government in an official ceremony to hand over 27 skeletons of New Zealand (Op Te Auraki) military personnel at the Bunga Raya Complex, Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Aug 20.

In addition to seven skeletons from the Kamunting CWG, also to be sent home at the official handing over ceremony would be 16 skeletons from the Melaka CWG and the Cheras, Kuala Lumpur CWG.

A total of 235 members of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and representatives from the Ministry of Health attended the ceremony as a symbol of honour by ATM to members of the New Zealand military personnel who were buried at CWG from 1958 to 1960.

Also present at the ceremony was Second Brigade Commander, Brig Gen Datuk Mohd Nizam Jaafar, Raja Permaisuri Bainun Ipoh Hospital Forensic Department chief Dr Mohd Shafie Othman and New Zealand military representative Lieutenant Commander Trevor Leslie.

The ceremony marked the completion of excavation works, forensic analysis, reconciliation process and identification board involving 55 personnel from ATM, 40 personnel from government agencies and local universities, and 23 personnel from New Zealand, from July 23.

Meanwhile, Mohd Nizam when met after the ceremony said all the skeletons submitted yesterday were those who died during the second World War.

“This is the first time (the handing over of the skeletons) is being implemented with New Zealand and, for the first time, conducted with full military ceremony,” he said. — Bernama