Sun, 22 Nov 2009 4:56p.m.
By Beverly Lockhart
Today marks 15 years since the death of our most decorated soldier, Capt Charles Upham, who was twice awarded the Victoria Cross.
At his gravestone in Christchurch, a memorial has been held in honour of his fellow servicemen who never returned home and lie buried in Germany.
For example, Flying Officer Luke Barnes, a 22-year-old spitfire pilot shot down three weeks before the end of World War II.
One of 13,000 New Zealanders killed in the war, Mr Barnes is buried at Becklingen War Cemetary near Hannover in Germany, alongside 37 other New Zealand airmen.
His grave is tended by Hans-Heinrich Meyer, a local compelled to honour the memory of fallen foreigners, who chose Mr Barnes to represent the New Zealanders buried there.
"I and a comrade looked for one grave, we looked for one grave for all and we found the grave of Luke Barnes," he says.
Every Anzac Day, Mr Meyer raises the New Zealand flag and holds a memorial service at Mr Barnes' grave.
Bearing photos of the pilot's tombstone, he has travelled to Christchurch to meet Mr Barnes' 89-year-old sister, who has never seen her brother's grave.
"I didn't know there was a service every Anzac Day at Luke's grave," says Grace Brizley. "I thought that was really mighty, you know."
Mr Meyer says he is honoured to give back to the family of a young Anzac who never made it home.
"I'm very proud - I can't say it in English, I lost my words."
He hopes other families of those buried at Becklingen will also now know their loved ones haven't been forgotten.
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