years later he married Kate Lewis, a war widow, and had a fifth child. On his retirement, Judson's pension was insufficient to support him and his children. Unable to return to his civilian trade of engineering due to poor health, he found employment as a secretary at a school in Auckland. A year later, he was voted onto Auckland City Council for the Citizens and Ratepayers Association and served for nine years. He was one of six candidates who stood for selection for the electorate by the National Party for the , but Harry Merritt was chosen instead. Later life Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Judson volunteered for military service. To be eligible, he deceived the authorities about his age. He served on the home front for the duration of the war, commanding the Guards Vital Points Battalion in Auckland. He retired from the military in September 1946 with the rank of major. Judson moved to Mangonui in Northland and took up farming. He was also community minded, and served as a justice of the peace as well as being a coroner. He retired in the late 1950s, and returned to Auckland where he died on 26 August 1972. He was buried at Waikumete Cemetery, survived by his wife and four children. One of his sons, Reginald, served in the Second World War with the 24th Battalion as a chaplain and won the Military Cross during the Italian Campaign. Medal Judson's Victoria Cross was displayed at the QEII Army Memorial Museum, Waiouru. On 2 December 2007 it was one of nine Victoria Crosses that were among a hundred medals stolen from the museum. On 16 February 2008, New Zealand Police announced all the medals had been recovered as a result of a NZ$300,000 reward offered by Michael Ashcroft and Tom Sturgess. Notes Footnotes Citations References External links Portrait of R.S. Judson and short biography 1881 births 1972 deaths New Zealand Army personnel New Zealand military personnel of World War II New Zealand World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross New Zealand recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal New Zealand recipients of the Military Medal Burials at Waikumete Cemetery People from the Auckland Region Auckland City Councillors