Fallen New Zealand Defence Force Ex-servicemen to return home

The remains of two New Zealand Defence Force Ex-servicemen, Secretarial Officer Flight, Lieutenant George Beban, and Fireman Leading Aircraftman, Ralph Scott begin their journey back to New Zealand today.

Flight Lieutenant Beban and Leading Aircraftman Scott died of natural causes, in 1956 and 1960 respectively, while based at the Royal New Zealand Air Force station in Laucala Bay.

Group Captain Carl Nixon, leading the project known as Te Auraki (The Return), says the New Zealand Defence Force was grateful to the government of Fiji for agreeing to the disinterments and for looking after the graves for many years.

Group Captain Nixon says the two late New Zealand Defence Force servicemen are of 37 servicemen and dependants that the New Zealand Defence Force anticipate returning home over the next six months as part of project Te Auraki.

Nixon says they are committed to ensuring this process is as dignified as possible for the families, which have waited many years for their loved ones to be taken home to New Zealand.

The fallen personnel are due to return to New Zealand, to be handed to their families on May 7.