“The lost memorials to three New Zealand soldiers who died in World War I have been unearthed from the bottom of a box in the City Archives [Wellington City Council] - almost a century after they were issued.

Three sets of medals, memorial plaques, scrolls, and letters from King George V, have been discovered after they never reached the families of the dead soldiers. Two illuminated certificates of service - an illustrated certificate sent to the families of Kiwi servicemen - were also found.

The trove was uncovered at the bottom of a box of Union Steam Ship Company records, marked as World War I accounts and records.
It appeared the army had attempted to send the honours to the three soldiers' families … After being unable to find anyone, the honours were passed on to the men's employer, the Union Steam Ship Company, which agreed to "hold them in trust".

JAMES LOVELL
“Born in England in 1874, he had already served in the 1st and 2nd Border Regiment. He enlisted in January 1915 and recorded his address as "Sailors' Home, Auckland". He was sent to Samoa as part of the Samoa Relief force, where he died of pleurisy and pericarditis, on May 20, 1915. His brother, William Lovell, was his next of kin and the address stated "Calcutta, India". He received the English War Medal, a plaque and a scroll. His illuminated certificate of service was issued and "held”.”
[The Dominion Post, 4 April 2015]