New Zealander finally gets his GC commemorative medal

New Zealander Jim Steel, who was a member of the force that defended Malta during the second world war, was presented with the George Cross commemorative medal issued by the Maltese government.

The medal was presented to Mr Steel just after his 85th birthday at a family celebration for his and wife Helen's 56th wedding anniversary. The presentation was made by Carmen Dalli, honorary consul for Malta in Wellington.

The medal presentation concluded a chapter in Mr Steel's life that started with him breaking his shoulder in the Napier earthquake of 1935. The resulting loose shoulder blade threatened to make him unfit for the airforce but he persisted and by "conning" a doctor was on his way to his wings.

His war service took him to dropping leaflets over Paris and later to Malta in the thick of things. His trip from England to Malta, captaining a Wellington bomber, took 11 hours, the limit of the plane's range.

While forming part of RAF 40 Squadron, Mr Steel's flying supported New Zealand troops in the western desert and later in Italy.

Malta and its rich history impressed the young man from Napier. He experienced a land where people lived on an island seeped in history.

The Great Siege of 1565 against the Turks was not just history book stuff - it was still very much alive in the minds of most people. He was often reminded, as he saw a bomber blow up in an air raid, that he too was part of history in the making.

Mr Steel's initial eight-week posting in Malta eventually turned to five months owing to the intensity of the war. He flew over 25 sorties supporting both army and naval operations. Mr Steel was most impressed by the heroic struggle put up by the Maltese during the siege by the Axis forces.

King George VI awarded the Maltese people the George Cross on April 15, 1942, to honour this heroism.

In 1992, the government struck a commemorative medal to mark the 50th anniversary since the granting of the honour.

The medal was awarded to services personnel who served in Malta during the second great siege up to 1942 in appreciation of their defence of Malta.

Dr Dalli said the presentation of the medal meant a great deal for Mr Steel, even after 61 years.

The presentation took place a decade after the medals were minted because the paperwork had reached Mr Steel but not the medal.

It took persistence and intense detective work by Anthony Micallef, president of the Maltese Association of Wellington, to locate the medal.