After almost 60 years, the family of an Australian digger killed in the Vietnam War has discovered he had a daughter they never knew existed.

She’s now been welcomed into the family and presented with a special military memento that has been treasured for more than half a century.

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In an emotional moment, Richard Robertson handed over his most cherished possession to his brother’s long-lost daughter, Naomi Jackson.

“It’s been with us for over 50 years. And it’s now time for you to take it over,” Robertson said as he presented his brother’s military uniform to Jackson.

“You have no idea what that means,” she responded. “Obviously at the time when he was alive it meant a lot to him, so it means the world.”

The uniform was the only tangible connection Robertson had with his brother, who was accidentally shot by an Australian guard on Christmas Eve 1969.

“I love my brother and I just didn’t share a life with him,” he said.

Richard Robertson presented Naomi Jackson with a treasured family item. Credit: 7NEWS

The astounding discovery came from Richard’s wife Jacintha, who was recently researching family history.

She was a total stranger, but Jackson’s DNA matched Malcolm’s after extensive tests.

“The only conclusion we could come to was that Malcolm was Naomi’s father,” she said.

When asked if they knew Malcolm was a father, the family replied: “We had no idea.”

Adopted as a child, Jackson never knew who her birth father was.

“There’s always a part of you missing,” she said.

Her birth mother has since confirmed a relationship with Malcolm when he was in training at Puckapunyal.

“Now that I’ve met my father’s family, there’s just these undeniable connections or traits,” Jackson said. “Like I have all these new relatives that can tell me, in their words, what my dad meant to them.”

Their new family ties are now so strong and powerful that Jackson will be the face of the next RSL Poppy Appeal.

“Through me, and through my children, he has left a legacy, which is really good,” she said.

Robertson concurred.

“Hopefully through owning this and passing it on to her kids, Malcolm’s memory will live on,” he said. “And I know she’ll cherish it and honour it.”