Kōrero: Veterans’ assistance

Some New Zealand soldiers killed in the Vietnam War were not buried in the military section of a public cemetery, due to public opposition to that war. One of those was Morrie Manton, the 29-year-old section commander of Victor infantry company, who was killed by a land mine in 1967. His original gravestone at Waikumete cemetery in West Auckland made no reference to his death in action. In 2006 four of his surviving comrades erected a more detailed headstone for Manton. From left are James 'Dinga' Bell, Brian 'Willy' Wilson, Graeme 'Topsy' Turvey and their former platoon commander, Raymond 'Red' Beatson.