72 veterans attend memorial service
KUCHING: The commemoration and thanksgiving service by the New Zealand Malayan Veterans Association (NZMVA) at the Heroes Memorial Park here yesterday proceeded smoothly despite the steady rain that went on all morning.
A total of 27 veterans returned to Malaysia to remember their time spent here on duty, and to witness the unveiling of the commemorative plaque by NZ High Commissioner to Malaysia Dr John Subritzky.
In his speech, Subritzky said that it was easy for those not directly involved with the Emergency and the Indonesian Confrontation to forget how difficult and challenging those campaigns were.
“I just want to acknowledge the sacrifices that were made during those conflicts. The veterans who are here today are living embodiment of one of the crucial foundations of this special relationship between New Zealand with Malaysia and Sarawak,” he said.
He added that the remains of the New Zealand soldiers buried in Malaysia will soon be repatriated with the honour and dignity that they deserve.
NZMVA senior vice president William Russell, 78, later told reporters that New Zealand lost 37 soldiers in Taiping and at the Thai border. None of those deployed to Sarawak were killed.
Because it was the New Zealand government’s policy not to bring bodies home, there were also casualties of the Vietnam War buried in Melaka, he revealed.
“Australia’s already done that (repatriated their soldiers). We have not started yet. I understand it’ll be early next year. There’s a lot of protocol to follow. You don’t just get a spade and dig.”
There will be a lot of sensitive negotiation with the next-of-kin once they are tracked down, Russell pointed out, adding that there might not even be anyone alive to remember them.