Precious war medal back where it belongs

In the year that the service of New Zealanders at Gallipoli reaches a massive milestone, a Plimmerton man is celebrating the return of a symbol of his father’s involvement.

Angus Langbein’s father, Charles, served in both world wars as a gunner and an engineer.

He went to Samoa, Gallipoli and the Western Front in the first conflict, and the Western Desert and Crete in the second.

After World War I he received a Service Medal, the 1914/ 15 Star and Victory Medal.

Angus Langbein said he gave the medals to his sons, but some time in the past 20 years the Victory Medal went missing.

‘‘It’s one of those unfortunate things – we’re not sure when or how, but we thought, ‘That’s it, it’s gone’,’’ he said.

He was floored when, just before Christmas, he got a telephone call to say the medal had been found.

Parekura Winitana had bought a box of items at a garage sale in the Hutt Valley more than 15 years ago.

Not long after, she moved to Australia.

During a recent cleanout in Australia, the Victory Medal was found among some of her old papers and costume jewellery.

Unlike other war medals, this medal had the name of the person to whom it was awarded engraved on the side.

Winitana sent the medal to her brother, Vern, in New Zealand.

Fortunately, Langbein is not a common name and Vern tracked down the correct family.

‘‘If my name was Smith, it could have been a real struggle for Vern,’’ Angus Langbein said.

‘‘It’s fantastic that Vern has done what he has done – many people may have not gone to the lengths he did.

‘‘We’re very happy that this significant thing for our family is back.’’

Winitana, a Wellington and New Zealand Maori rugby representative, played down his actions.

He said he had talked with Angus Langbein about his father’s wartime service and said it appeared he served with distinction in both wars.

‘‘My family is very proud and honoured to return this taonga to Angus and his family,’’ Winitana said.

‘‘He was a New Zealander of German descent who faced discrimination based on his name. The real character of this man is immeasurable really.’’

Langbein said the war medals would probably be put on more formal display now, but that was up to his son, Fraser, who will hold on to the medals.

Langbein and another son, Lachlan, were drawn from the second national ballot and will attend the dawn service at Gallipoli in Turkey on Anzac Day.

‘‘ I’m not getting any younger, so I hope I have it in me.

‘‘It’ll be a special occasion, that’s for sure.’’