Soldier's quest strikes lucky

Netta Graham, who lives in Matamata, 'wondered what on earth' she was doing in the Herald. Picture / Greg Bowker

A retired British Royal Marine has succeeded in his quest to find a woman he met in New Zealand in 1946.

Ray Bury, 78, of Northumberland, wrote to the Herald, enclosing a 1946 photograph of Netta Kellson. It was published in Sideswipe on Tuesday.

Less than a day later, word came that the attractive young woman in the picture was now Netta Graham, of Matamata.

Mrs Graham, now 79, said she was surprised to see her photo in the paper. "I wondered what on Earth it was doing there," she laughed.

She giggled again when asked how she felt about Mr Bury wanting to track her down.

Mrs Graham, whose maiden name was Cloke, had fond memories of the young man she met at a dance in Auckland and who became her boyfriend for several months.

"He was always very pleasant."

Mr Bury served on HMNZS Achilles from 1945 to 1947, spending a year in Auckland as a 19-year-old.

The two lost touch after he left, but she gave him the photo, signed: "To Ray with all my love, Netta."

Mrs Graham, whose husband died three years ago, is looking forward to seeing Mr Bury when he comes to New Zealand next August.

He won a ticket in the "Heroes' Return" lottery, which takes British World War II veterans to overseas battlefields where they served.

In his letter, Mr Bury said he wanted to see Netta again to thank her for the kindness she showed him when he came to New Zealand.

"Even if she is married I am sure her husband will be a sport and allow me to thank her for the hospitality ... She was a lovely lady, like most of you New Zealand people are."

This week he told the Herald from his Northumberland home he was surprised she had been found so fast.

He denied there was a romance.

Mr Bury is married with a son and two grandchildren.

Mrs Graham has two children and six grandchildren.