VETERAN, 100, FINALLY RECEIVES HIS WAR MEDALS 80 YEARS LATE THANKS TO HIS DAUGHTER
At 100 years of age, Queensland veteran Ian Hart finally has the war medals he earned as a teenager in the Second World War.
For decades he wore replicas, after a paperwork mix-up meant his overseas service simply never appeared on the official record.
Now, thanks to a determined daughter and a local RSL sub-branch, the record has been put right.
His story, shared by ABC News on Remembrance Day, November 11, is a heart-warming reminder that it is never too late to say thank you.
A teenager who chose the army
Ian was born in Brisbane and now lives independently at Tamborine Mountain in the Scenic Rim, inland from the Gold Coast.
In 1944, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the Australian Army alongside school friends.
His parents had hoped he would spend six months jackarooing instead, but he had other ideas.
He served in the Pacific with the 11th Australian Small Ships Company, a water transport unit that moved troops.
His ship, the TSMV Blackwood, sailed from Australia to Borneo and Papua New Guinea.
One night the vessel ran aground on a reef, the crew had to abandon ship, and they were rescued by an American cargo ship.
Military service runs in the family, as his father, Sir Byrne Hart, served in the First World War and earned a Military Cross.
How his war medals went missing
The problem only came to light years later, when Ian applied for a veterans' card.
Records held by the Department of Veterans' Affairs showed no overseas service at all, even though he had served well over the six months required.
He believes the dramatic rescue may be the reason his records were never updated.
He was eventually given a veterans' gold card about 20 years ago, but the medals themselves never arrived.
So, like many quietly modest men of his generation, he made do with replica medals and got on with life.
A daughter who wouldn't give up
That changed when his youngest daughter, Tina Fulton-Kennedy, decided to get in touch with his local RSL sub-branch.
Members verified his service and applied to the department on his behalf.
Remarkably, after a wait of around 80 years, the medals arrived within just 10 days.
Ian received five service medals, including the Pacific Star, recognising 245 days of active service overseas and 622 days of active service in Australia.
A celebration was held for him at Queensland's Parliament House in October.
Tina told the ABC her father was very proud, adding "he's just so humble."
Checking your family's war medals
Ian's story may prompt you to think about the veterans in your own family.
Many older Australians never claimed their medals, and some families are unsure whether a parent or grandparent received everything they were entitled to.
Service records can contain gaps, particularly for those whose units moved around a lot or whose paperwork was lost along the way.
If you suspect something is missing, your local RSL sub-branch is a good place to start, just as it was for Tina.
You can also find information about veterans' entitlements and support on the Department of Veterans' Affairs website.
It helps to gather what you already have before you ask, such as discharge papers, old photographs, letters or a service number.
And if your loved one is still with you, sit down together and listen to their stories, because those memories are precious too.
Why it matters
For Ian, the medals are about far more than metal and ribbon.
They are official recognition of a young man who left home at 18 to serve his country, and of the mates he served alongside.
They also show what can happen when a family member refuses to accept that nothing can be done.
This Remembrance Day, it is a lovely nudge to check in on the older people in our lives, to ask them about their experiences and to make sure their contribution is acknowledged.
Ian Hart waited eight decades for his war medals, and now, at 100, he can finally wear the real thing with pride.
