Tawa boy James McKie, a hero after saving his commanding officer from a hand grenade, is the son of a former New Zealand soldier and “war bride” who try not to worry about his safety in Afghanistan.

“I hope I don’t come off as some complete douche bag,” writes James McKie, a British Army rifleman who has been hounded by local and international media and invited to be friends with innumerable (unknown) people on Facebook since he hit world headlines a week ago.
Writing to tell his parents he’d been interviewed by the BBC, he is sincerely embarrassed to be made such a fuss of. As far as he is concerned his injuries sustained while saving Captain Kerr who had a hand grenade thrown at his back while based in Afghanistan were “no different to cutting yourself shaving”. And going against his training by handling and then throwing the grenade as opposed to ducking out of the way was instinctive not heroic.
Not only does the label “hero” embarrass the gentle man, but so too was getting a visit from English Prime Minister Gordon Brown, while he was in hospital recovering from the incident.
Being an “an army brat”, an avid sports fan, a lover of animals and a loyal friend are the qualities which have turned the 29 year old into a hero.
James’ dad Andrew served in the New Zealand Army for 21 years before becoming an international manager for the NZ Red Cross. Andrew met James’ mum Sam in Singapore where he was based in the late 70s.
It definitely was not love at first sight, says Sam.
“I was working in a restaurant (1976) and Andrew fell asleep. I was really angry because we closed at 11pm and he had had too many beers. So I poured a bucket of ice down his shirt,” says Sam without a smile.
“It was one of the top hotels in Singapore,” says Andrew. “I kept coming back and it progressed from there.”
The couple (Andrew affectionately refers to Sam as a “war bride”) shifted to New Zealand in 1979, and in 1981 James was born (in Wanganui). Two years later they had a girl named Kimberley.
The McKies moved frequently, living on army bases in Waiouru, Papakura, Burnham, Singapore, back to Waiouru, Papakura, Vanuatu (where they bought a restaurant and bar), and finally settling in Tawa where the kids went to high school.
Their parents remember the war games played with all the kids on the base.
James went to the army, after school, when most of his mates went to university.
“It’s something he has always wanted to do,” says Sam. “He was an army brat.”
It was also obvious to one of his best mates, Alistair Webb, that James would end up in the army. “He didn’t really talk about much else.”
Not counting sport.
“[At Tawa College] he was one of the first guys I was friends with,” says Webb. “James had an intimate knowledge of cricket”.
Webb was in a higher team than James and gave him a bit of coaching, which he “is sure” must have helped James’ hand/eye coordination when he picked up the hand grenade a week ago.
In a past interview James even gave Blackcap Daniel Vettori advice on his game, and that’s just one of his favourite sports. When James was based in East Timor his mum and dad subscribed to Sky especially to record the FIFA World Cup games for their son. Dad Andrew says James was walking around his base with his fingers in his ears telling people not to tell him who won. When he returned home he watched every single football game (on his parents’ couch in Tawa).
While serving abroad James sent his parents photos of himself with his General Purpose Gun which he named Frank Castle (after the protagonist in Marvel Comics’ The Punisher).
“He always loved comics and The Transformers,” says Andrew. “They are all in his bedroom.”
“We are going to send him one for Christmas,” says Sam.
James, who was remembered more for his big glasses and rather skinny build at Tawa College, has buffed up and certainly come into his own. But some things haven’t changed, like his love of animals and his loyalty to friends.
“He’s totally honest. We never had any issues with him. He was the perfect teenager,” says Andrew.
Best mate Webb adds: “He’s taken care of me a few times when I was intoxicated. And if he stays over night at your place he is always the guy who washes up afterwards.”
Like father like son?
“No, Andrew doesn’t clean, but he does the dishes,” says Sam. “[Whereas James] is really tidy and clean.”
Andrew and Sam say their military background makes the distance from James in war torn Afghanistan easier to manage.
“One of his friends was killed the day before the grenade incident and a week before someone from his platoon was killed,” says Sam. “We are prepared for that.”
“You do worry,” says Andrew. “But you don’t sit around wringing your hands.”
In fact, “I was more worried about him driving his car in New Zealand,” says Sam. “He had a boy racer car and he used to scare the hell out of us.”
Sam and Andrew look forward to James coming home to Tawa for a month’s holiday soon, and in the meantime will continue to send him food parcels with jet plane lollies (which they have been told he gives to the kids in Afghanistan) and Marmite.
Before then, Andrew will visit James in Brussels on ANZAC Day.
“We might go to a service and then drink some beers.”
James, who joined the British Army after serving in the New Zealand Army, has signed an eight year contract with the Brits. And dad feels sure James will be honoured for his heroic act in Afghanistan last week.
“Obviously he is going to get some sort of medal.”
Dawn Tratt