Peter Badcoe
Peter Badcoe Terendak Garrison Cemetery | |
---|---|
Allegiance | Australia |
Service/ | Australian Army |
Years of service | 1950–1967 |
Rank | Major |
Unit | |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Awards |
|
Peter John Badcoe, VC (11 January 1934 – 7 April 1967) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in battle that could be awarded at that time to a member of the Australian armed forces. Badcoe, born Peter Badcock, joined the Australian Army in 1950 and graduated from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea, in 1952 as a second lieutenant in the Royal Australian Artillery. A series of regimental postings followed, including a tour in the Federation of Malaya in 1962, during which he spent a week in South Vietnam observing the fighting. During the previous year, Badcock had changed his surname to Badcoe. After another regimental posting, he transferred to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, and was promoted to major.
In August 1966, Badcoe arrived in South Vietnam as a member of the
In 2008, Badcoe's medal set was auctioned for A$ 488,000 to Kerry Stokes in collaboration with the Government of South Australia. After going on display at the South Australian Museum and touring regional South Australia, it is now displayed in the Hall of Valour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Buildings and awards have been named after Badcoe, including the rest and recreation centre in South Vietnam, an assembly room and library at Portsea, the main lecture theatre at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and a perpetual medal for an Australian Football League match held on Anzac Day; as well as the electoral district of Badcoe in the South Australian House of Assembly.
Early life and career
Badcoe was born Peter John Badcock on 11 January 1934 in the
After a brief posting to the 16th National Service Battalion in early 1952,
A junior staff officer in the Directorate of Military Operations and Plans at Australian Army Headquarters from 1958 until 1961,[5] he was promoted to temporary captain in 1958,[1] and substantive captain in June 1960.[4] On 6 February 1961, he was posted to the 4th Field Regiment,[5] and the same year changed his surname to Badcoe.[1][2] The couple decided to change their surname after their third daughter was born in order to make it easier for them.[6]
On training exercises, Badcoe was aggressive and energetic.[7] He was also a quiet, gentle and retiring man who confided mainly in his wife and had a dry wit. His colleagues found him inscrutable. He avoided boisterous mess activities and preferred reading military history. Short and stocky, a teetotaller who did not smoke, he wore horn-rimmed spectacles and regaled his colleagues on military matters when off-duty.[1]
In June 1961, Badcoe was posted to the
Vietnam War
Badcoe arrived in South Vietnam on 6 August 1966 as a member of the AATTV.
In his first week at Nam Hóa, Badcoe was advising an RF
Easily identified by the
In December 1966, Badcoe became the sector operations adviser at the provincial headquarters in Huế.[1] This role generally involved planning, liaison and staff work, but Badcoe interpreted his duty statement flexibly and led local forces into combat whenever he got the chance.[2][5] According to a fellow AATTV officer, Captain Barry Rissel, he was a "veritable tiger" in combat, a characteristic that led his US allies to dub him "The Galloping Major". At his first meeting with Badcoe, Corporal Chris Black described the scene:[15]
An old, bright red beret sat jauntily on his head. His drab jungle greens were almost hidden under the most amazing collection of weapons I have ever seen on one man. A Swedish sub-machine gun, his favourite, hung over one shoulder. It was balanced on the other side by a snub-nosed grenade launcher. On his belt an Australian pistol hung heavily and in one hand he heft an American machine-gun. He lowered the armament to the floor, crossed the room, shook hands, refused a drink and talked about his boys.
On 23 February 1967, Badcoe and his United States Marine Corps deputy, Captain James Custar, were advising an RF company operation in the Phu Thu District. About 660 yards (600 m) on their flank was a PF platoon accompanied by two United States Army advisers, Captain Clement and Sergeant Thomas. Badcoe and Custar began to hear intermittent rifle fire, coming from the direction of the flanking platoon. Custar was monitoring radio transmissions when he heard that Clement had been wounded and Thomas was in danger. Badcoe ran across the intervening fire-swept ground to reach the PF platoon, with the enemy fire intensifying as he approached. He discovered that Clement was lying 160 yards (150 m) ahead of the platoon, and had been mortally wounded while going to assist a wounded PF soldier. Thomas had tried to reach Clement and had in turn been wounded and was lying in the open between Clement and the platoon, which had pulled back. Badcoe observed that the enemy were dug in along a small rise, and appeared to be in about company-strength and readying for an attack. He gathered the PF platoon and led a frontal assault on the enemy position, firing as he went. Dodging automatic fire, he charged a machine-gun position and shot the crew with his rifle. Led by Badcoe, the PF platoon inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. Once the PF platoon had consolidated its position, Badcoe went back, still under fire, to lift Clement and carry him out of the danger area. He then returned and assisted Thomas to a position from which he could be safely evacuated. The operation concluded successfully.[5][17][18]
Two weeks later, the sector RF reaction company was tasked to the
Badcoe became disillusioned with the war during his service in South Vietnam.[16] He was particularly affected by an incident in February 1967 in which the ARVN regiment he was working with called in a napalm strike on a VC-occupied village, whose population was strongly supportive of the government, instead of attempting to attack and dislodge the VC. Badcoe and other advisers attempted to stop the use of napalm, but the ARVN divisional headquarters overruled them. A total of 40 civilians were killed or wounded, and Badcoe spent the next day-and-a-half arranging the removal of bodies and new accommodation for the survivors.[21] He eventually concluded that the conflict was an "unwinnable war".[16] On 7 April, Badcoe, who wrote frankly to his wife and children, penned a letter to them expressing his "unease and cynicism" about the conduct of the war and indicating that he wished to come home.[22] At this time Badcoe was planning to take a short break on the Japanese island of Okinawa starting the following day, with an Australian Army friend who had been visiting him, observing operations.[20]
When he returned from the field early in the morning of 7 April, Badcoe was told that he was required to act as sector headquarters duty officer due to the illness of another adviser. He saw his friend off to
Badcoe decided that he needed to go out to the ARVN force and assist them. He arranged for relief as the sector duty officer, grabbed his weapons and equipment, and collected Sergeant Alberto Alvarado, his US Army deputy adviser and radio operator. They sped in their jeep towards An Thuan. Upon arrival, they found the ARVN force preparing for another assault, which was to consist of the APCs followed by the Hac Bao company. Badcoe and his deputy climbed aboard an APC and joined the attack. About 820 feet (250 m) from An Thuan, the force was moving through the hamlet's cemetery and hostile fire increased markedly, from recoilless rifles, mortars, machine guns and small arms. The APCs drove through the cemetery and deployed to suppress the enemy fire. The Hac Bao company pressed forward through the cemetery, at which time Badcoe and Alvarado dismounted and joined them. During the last stages of the attack, the two advisers were leading the infantry when the enemy fire became so heavy that both the APCs and infantry began falling back through the cemetery.[24]
Badcoe began rallying the ARVN soldiers to renew the assault, and artillery was called in on the enemy positions. After this, Badcoe and Alvarado again pushed forward, attempting to encourage the ARVN troops to press home the attack. The final stages of the line of assault crossed dry, open rice paddy fields with no cover. Enemy fire converged on Badcoe, Alvarado and the ARVN troops, who again went to ground. On this occasion, Badcoe refused to fall back. He headed straight for an enemy machine-gun position that was causing devastation among the ARVN force. Forced to ground by the intense fire, Badcoe was soon joined by Alvarado. Badcoe lifted himself up to throw a hand grenade, but was pulled down by Alvarado as bullets cracked overhead. When he rose to throw again, he was cut down by machine-gun fire and killed instantly. Alvarado attempted to recover his body, but was shot in the leg. He then used his radio to call in close air support and more artillery to suppress the enemy fire. The Hac Bao company, supported by the APCs, then moved forward and captured the objective.[5][19][25][26]
A military funeral for Badcoe was held in Huế, the largest for any Allied soldier until that date.[25] Badcoe was buried in the Terendak Garrison Cemetery in Malacca, Malaysia. The epitaph on his gravestone reads: "He lived and died a soldier".[5] According to McNeill, Badcoe was highly respected by both South Vietnamese and US allies, and was an inspirational leader who had saved the lives of his comrades and turned defeat into victory on many occasions.[25]
Post-script
For his courage and leadership on 23 February, 7 March, and 7 April 1967,
On 23rd February 1967 he was acting as an Advisor to a Regional Force Company in support of a Sector operation in Phu Thu District. He monitored a radio transmission which stated that the Subsector Adviser, a United States Army Officer, had been killed and that his body was within 50 metres of an enemy machine gun position; further, the United States Medical Adviser had been wounded and was in immediate danger from the enemy. Major Badcoe with complete disregard for his own safety moved alone across 600 metres of fire-swept ground and reached the wounded Adviser, attended to him and ensured his future safety. He then organised a force of one platoon and led them towards the enemy post. His personal leadership, words of encouragement, and actions in the face of hostile enemy fire forced the platoon to successfully assault the enemy position and capture it, where he personally killed the machine gunners directly in front of him. He then picked up the body of the dead officer and ran back to the Command post over open ground still covered by enemy fire.
On 7th March 1967, at approximately 0645 hours, the Sector Reaction Company was deployed to Quang Dien Subsector to counter an attack by the Viet Cong on the Headquarters. Major Badcoe left the Command group after their vehicle broke down and a United States Officer was killed; he joined the Company Headquarters and personally led the company in an attack over open terrain to assault and capture a heavily defended enemy position. In the face of certain death and heavy losses his personal courage and leadership turned certain defeat into victory and prevented the enemy from capturing the District Headquarters.
On 7th April 1967, on an operation in Huong Tra District, Major Badcoe was with the 1st A.R.V.N. Division Reaction Company and some armoured personnel carriers. During the move forward to an objective the company came under heavy small arms fire and withdrew to a cemetery for cover, this left Major Badcoe and his radio operator about 50 metres in front of the leading elements, under heavy mortar fire. Seeing this withdrawal, Major Badcoe ran back to them, moved amongst them and by encouragement and example got them moving forward again. He then set out in front of the company to lead them on; the company stopped again under heavy fire but Major Badcoe continued on to cover and prepared to throw grenades, when he rose to throw, his radio operator pulled him down as heavy small arms fire was being brought to bear on them; he later got up again to throw a grenade and was hit and killed by a burst of machine gun fire. Soon after, friendly artillery fire was called in and the position was assaulted and captured.
Major Badcoe's conspicuous gallantry and leadership on all these occasions was an inspiration to all, each action, ultimately, was successful, due entirely to his efforts, the final one ending in his death. His valour and leadership were in the highest traditions of the military profession and the Australian Regular Army.
— The London Gazette 17 October 1967
Denise Badcoe received her husband's Victoria Cross from the Governor-General, Lord Casey, at Government House, Canberra, on 5 April 1968.[29] Badcoe was awarded the United States Silver Star with bronze oak leaf cluster, Air Medal and Purple Heart,[30] and was made a Knight of the National Order of Vietnam. South Vietnam also awarded him the Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Gold Star, and Silver Star, the Armed Forces Honor Medal, First Class,[22] Vietnam Campaign Medal and Wound Medal, and he posthumously received the Vietnam Medal and Australian Defence Medal from Australia.[30] The Official History of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1975 judged that Badcoe was "a dedicated career soldier" who "quickly acquired an understanding of the Vietnamese people and their customs along with an affectionate respect for the Vietnamese territorials he trained and led".[16]
Members of the AATTV received many decorations, and the unit gained the distinction of being "probably the mostly highly decorated unit for its size in the Australian Army".[31] Only four Australians were awarded the Victoria Cross in Vietnam; all went to members of the AATTV, two of them posthumously.[32]
The soldiers' club at the
Badcoe's medal group and personal memoirs were offered for sale by auction in Sydney on 20 May 2008 and were sold for
In 2015, the Australian government repatriated the remains of 22 Australian soldiers buried at Terendak, but the Badcoe family asked that he remain buried there,[22] in accordance with his express wishes.[43] In 2016, the South Australian electoral district of Ashford was renamed Badcoe in his honour.[44] In 2020, a 60-bed residential aged care facility named Peter Badcoe VC House was completed in Newcastle, New South Wales, by the Returned and Services League of Australia (New South Wales Branch) aged care arm, RSL LifeCare.[45]
Footnotes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k McNeill 1993.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Wigmore & Harding 1986, p. 171.
- ^ South Australian Museum 2009a.
- ^ a b Blanch & Pegram 2018, p. 438.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Staunton 2005, p. 279.
- ^ a b Madden 2018, p. 421.
- ^ a b McNeill 1984, p. 237.
- ^ Madden 2018, p. 422.
- ^ McNeill 1984, p. 238.
- ^ McNeill 1984, pp. 6, 12 & 238.
- ^ McNeill 1984, pp. 70–71, 221–223.
- ^ McNeill 1984, p. 74.
- ^ McNeill 1984, pp. 238–239.
- ^ McNeill 1984, p. 239.
- ^ a b Blanch & Pegram 2018, pp. 438–439.
- ^ a b c d McNeill & Ekins 2003, p. 19.
- ^ Wigmore & Harding 1986, pp. 171–172.
- ^ McNeill 1984, pp. 239–240.
- ^ a b Wigmore & Harding 1986, p. 172.
- ^ a b McNeill 1984, p. 240.
- ^ McNeill & Ekins 2003, pp. 19–20.
- ^ a b c d Blanch & Pegram 2018, p. 439.
- ^ McNeill 1984, pp. 240–241.
- ^ McNeill 1984, pp. 241–242.
- ^ a b c McNeill 1984, p. 242.
- ^ Macklin 2008, p. 233.
- ^ Davies & McKay 2005, p. 102.
- ^ The London Gazette 17 October 1967.
- ^ The Canberra Times 6 April 1968.
- ^ a b South Australian Museum 2017a.
- ^ Guest & McNeill 1992, p. xiii.
- ^ Wigmore & Harding 1986, pp. 170–179.
- ^ Heritage Council Victoria 2004, p. 22.
- ^ South Australian Museum 2017b.
- ^ Roads & Maritime Services 2019.
- ^ XMRC 2019.
- ^ The Sydney Morning Herald 21 May 2008.
- ^ a b South Australian Museum 2009b.
- ^ History Trust 2009, p. 68.
- ^ Australian War Memorial 2016.
- ^ ABC 5 February 2016.
- ^ Founten 2021.
- ^ Madden 2018, p. 424.
- ^ SAEDBC 2016.
- ^ RSL LifeCare 2020.
References
Books
- Blanch, Craig & Pegram, Aaron (2018). For Valour: Australians Awarded the Victoria Cross. Sydney, New South Wales: NewSouth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-74223-542-4.
- Davies, Bruce & McKay, Gary (2005). The Men Who Persevered. Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-74114-425-3.
- Guest, Robert & McNeill, Ian (1992). The Team in Pictures: A Pictorial History of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam, 1962–1972. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: National Executive, Australian Army Training Team Vietnam Association. ISBN 978-0-646-10444-7.
- ISBN 978-1-74114-882-4.
- Madden, Michael (2018). The Victoria Cross, Australia Remembers. Melbourne, Victoria: Big Sky Publishing. ISBN 978-1-925520-98-9.
- McNeill, Ian (1984). The Team: Australian Army Advisers in Vietnam 1962–1972. Sydney, New South Wales: Australian War Memorial. ISBN 0-642-87702-5.
- McNeill, Ian & Ekins, Ashley (2003). On the Offensive: The Australian Army in the Vietnam War, January 1967 – June 1968. Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin in association with the Australian War Memorial. ISBN 1-86373-304-3.
- Staunton, Anthony (2005). Victoria Cross: Australia's Finest and the Battles They Fought. Prahran, Victoria: Hardie Grant. ISBN 978-1-74273-486-6.
- ISBN 978-0-642-99471-4.
Gazettes, newspapers and websites
- "Annual Report – Year ended 30 June 2009" (PDF). Adelaide, South Australia: History Trust of South Australia. 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- "Final Redistribution Report". South Australian Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- Founten, Loukas (25 April 2021). "Wines awarded Peter Badcoe VC Medal". Port Adelaide Football Club. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) - McNeill, Ian (1993). "Peter John Badcoe (1934–1967)". Badcoe, Peter John (1934–1967). Vol. 13. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian National University. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
{{cite book}}
:|website=
ignored (help) - "Mrs Badcoe Receives Her Husband's Victoria Cross". The Canberra Times. Vol. 42, no. 11, 968. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: John Fairfax Ltd. 6 April 1968. p. 3. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- "Newcastle – Peter Badcoe VC House". Sydney, New South Wales: RSL LifeCare. 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- "No. 44431". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 October 1967. p. 11273.
- "Peter Badcoe VC". Sydney, New South Wales: New South Wales Roads & Maritime Services. 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- "SAMA 1129/6 – Military Medals awarded to Major Peter Badcoe". Adelaide, South Australia: South Australian Museum. 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- "SAMA 1129 – Major Peter John Badcoe". Adelaide, South Australia: South Australian Museum. 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- "Stokes buys VC for $488,000". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales: Fairfax. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- "The Victoria Cross: Major Peter Badcoe VC" (PDF). South Australian Museum. Government of South Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
- "Victoria Cross For Valour: Peter John Badcoe VC" (PDF). South Australia Museum. Government of South Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
- "Victoria Cross medal group goes on display at Australian War Memorial". Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- "Victorian Heritage Database Report – Point Nepean Defence and Quarantine Precinct". Melbourne, Victoria: Heritage Council Victoria. 13 July 2004. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- "Vietnam War Victoria Cross medals to go on display". ABC News. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- "XMRC – Ex-Military Rehabilitation Centre". Edinburgh, South Australia: XMRC Inc. 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.