Research Report: The Distribution Of Campaign Medals And Stars In New Zealand After The Second World War by Matthew Buck
For the first time since the 1950s, in-depth research has been carried out into how many Second World War campaign medals awarded to ex-serving New Zealand veterans were never claimed, and what may have led to this.
Recent media publicity has highlighted that approximately 15 percent of the Second World War campaign medals awarded to members of 28 (Maori) Battalion were never issued.
New research undertaken by New Zealand Defence Force historian Matthew Buck reveals there was a low rate of uptake of medals by Army and Air Force veterans from across the New Zealand armed forces and those of other Commonwealth countries.
To find out more, including why New Zealand veterans did not claim their medals, read the report.