Phillip Jeffs said he made the extraordinary discovery of his great uncle Ernest Jeffs’ military record after making inquiries with the New Zealand Defence Force Archives and Medals Office.

“I was watching the Anzac Day march in 2016 when I wondered if Grandpa’s brothers had been to World War I,” Mr Jeffs said.

That curiosity led to a remarkable finding.

Ernest Jeffs was born in England in 1881, and moved to New Zealand in 1908.

He volunteered to fight in the Boer War, in South Africa, in 1899, as a Kaffarian refleman, at age 18.

He was aged 34 when he fought at Gallipoli in World War I. And he was aged 64 when he completed the “rare trifecta” by fighting in World War II.

Ernest Jeffs passed away in 1947, two years after World War II.

“I discovered that Ernest didn’t have any children. He married, but was divorced. That’s why the medals had been kept for him in trust with the New Zealand Defence Force,” Mr Jeffs said.

The medals include The Queen’s South Africa Medal (1899-1902) for the Boer War; The Gallipoli Commemorative Medal, The British War Medal, The 1914-15 Star and The Victory Medal (1914-1918) for service in World War I; and the New Zealand War Medal and New Zealand Service Medal (1939-1945) for service in World War II.

“I’m just so happy and relieved that Ernest won’t be forgotten, and his memory and achievements will live on in the Jeffs’ family,” Mr Jeffs said.

The family plans to have Ernest’s medals mounted with his photographs.

Mr Jeffs said it was difficult to comprehend how wars could occupy such a large proportion of one man’s life.

“I’m just so proud of him. I was quite sentimental, actually,” Mr Jeffs said.

“He must have loved it [serving in wars]. He sounds like an adventurous young bloke who wanted to see the world which, no doubt, he did.”

There is still much to be learned about Ernest’s story, and Mr Jeffs is determined to uncover as much as he can.

“I know he was only a painter and wallpaper hanger, by trade, but I get the sense he was a bit of a player-upper and a wag,” Mr Jeffs said.

“I’d say he was a bit of a wild boy to volunteer at just 18 to fight in the Boer War.”

Like so many soldiers, Ernest fell victim to dysentery in World War I.

He was forced to leave Gallipoli and was hospitalised in England. He recovered and returned to march on to France and the Western Front for the rest of the war.

Ernest stood just 168cm (5ft 6 inches).

“So he must have had plenty of ticker,” Mr Jeffs said.

“I think old Uncle Ernie was a doer, and a real adventure seeker.”