Kiwi soldiers’ remains brought home

This has been one of the greatest days of my life.’’

His father served in World War II as an air force medic and was discharged at the end of the war. He re-enlisted in 1948 and in 1954 was posted to Fiji, where he died of natural causes, aged 40, in 1956.

George Beban was buried in the military section of the Suva cemetery.

Two family members had flown over from Switzerland for Monday’s ceremony, including Ross Beban’s granddaughter Marcella Beban-france, 12, who said she was happy to be part of the day. ‘‘It’s not really like a funeral, it’s more like he’s coming home. It’s like a celebration.’’

Colleen Walker, whose brother, Engineering Mechanic 1st Class Russell James Craig Moore was also brought back to New Zealand, said his family had always wanted him home.

Moore died in an accident on a ship in Pago Pago, American Samoa, in 1956. He was 19.

Walker said she was worried that if Moore’s body stayed in American Samoa, he would be forgotten. Now, he could be buried with their mother and father in Timaru.

Te Auraki project leader Group Captain Carl Nixon said the Defence Force was committed to making the process as dignified as possible for the families of those who were being repatriated.

‘‘The remains will be handed over to the families with the appropriate Defence Force tikanga associated with repatriating bodies from abroad,’’ he said.

Leading Aircraftman Ralph Henry Scott, who died of natural causes on October 15, 1960, in Fiji, was also brought home to his family on Monday.