Final salute to NZ war hero

The coffin of Anzac of the Year John Masters is carried from the church. Photo / Simon Baker

He was a celebrated war hero and had visited the Queen at least three times, but John Masters was at ease with mates at his local RSA.

The retired Army lieutenant colonel, who lost his long battle with cancer last week at the age of 75, was surprised and humbled by the continual recognition of his efforts to help others, mourners heard yesterday.

Hundreds gathered at his funeral at St Barnabas Church in Christchurch, including Defence Minister Wayne Mapp, Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, heads of the RSA, and numerous war veterans, alongside serving members of the New Zealand Army.

Mr Masters' son Allan said although his father had been in the Queen's company on at least three occasions, and was known to Prime Ministers, he was just as comfortable at his RSA in the company of soldier mates.

Mr Masters famously saved the life of a Gurkha soldier under heavy fire in Borneo in 1965, earning him the prestigious Military Cross.

He was also instrumental in getting government recognition for Kiwi veterans' exposure to the toxic defoliant Agent Orange in Vietnam.

Earlier this year, he was named as New Zealand's inaugural Anzac of the Year, an award recognising comradeship, courage and commitment. Veterans Affairs Minister Judith Collins, in a letter read at yesterday's service, described Mr Masters as "one of nature's gentlemen".

General Mateparae called him an "inspirational New Zealander".

But Mr Masters' family yesterday revealed more of the man behind the great feats - a "go-to father", a man whose hearing and driving were "far from perfect", a man who taped tomatoes to the vines to prove he had the first crop of the season, a great story-teller and a lover of books and writing.

Mr Masters' casket was carried from the church grounds on an artillery gun carriage yesterday, after a gun salute, and with his former comrades forming a guard of honour.