Discharged from the NZEF and placed on the Reserve of Officers , Laurent settled into life in Hawera and soon found employment at a grocery store . He later worked as a sales representative . He married Ethel Homewood , originally from England , on 20 July 1921 , in a ceremony at Hawera . Fellow VC recipients John Grant and Leslie Andrew were present , the former in the capacity of best man . In 1937 , Laurent , along with several other VC recipients , was awarded the coronation medal to commemorate the ascension of King George VI to the British throne . During the Second World War , Laurent was recalled to the Reserve of Officers of the New Zealand Military Forces . He was soon commanding a battalion in the Home Guard . Later promoted to a temporary lieutenant colonel , he was made group director of the Hawera Home Guard in early 1942 . Late the following year he was appointed commander of the Hawera squadron of the Air Training Corps and held this post until 1945 . He was formally seconded to the Royal New Zealand Air Force for a brief period as a squadron commander of 34th Air Training Squadron before ceasing active duty at the end of the war . He formally retired from the military in 1949
coronation medal
King George VI Coronation Medal
Harry Laurent