Victoria Cross for Australia
Victoria Cross for Australia | |
---|---|
Next (higher) | none |
Equivalent | Victoria Cross |
Next (lower) | George Cross, Cross of Valour[2] |
The Victoria Cross for Australia is the highest award in the
The Victoria Cross for Australia was created by
The
History
Original Victoria Cross
The original
The barrels of the cannon used to cast the medals are stationed outside the Officers' Mess, at the
The original medal was awarded to
Separate Commonwealth awards
Since the end of the Second World War most but not all
With the issuing of
Appearance
The Victoria Cross for Australia is identical to the original design. It is a "
The cross is suspended by a ring from a seriffed "V" to a bar ornamented with laurel leaves, through which the ribbon passes. The reverse of the suspension bar is engraved with the recipient's name, rank, number and unit.[22] On the reverse of the medal is a circular panel, on which the date of the act for which it was awarded is engraved in the centre.[22] The ribbon is crimson, and is 38 millimetres (1.5 inches) wide. Although the warrants state the colour as red, it is defined by most commentators as "crimson" or "wine-red".[23]
Conferment
The Victoria Cross for Australia is awarded for
... most conspicuous gallantry, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy or belligerents.[1]
Awards are granted by the
The Victoria Cross for Australia is the highest award in the
The various forms of the Victoria Cross are inherently valuable, as was highlighted on 24 July 2006, when at the auctionhouse
Recipients
Mark Donaldson
The first Victoria Cross for Australia was awarded to
On 2 September 2008 Trooper Donaldson was outstanding in the manner in which he fought during a prolonged and effective enemy ambush. On numerous occasions, he deliberately drew the enemy's fire to allow wounded soldiers to be moved to safety. As the battle raged around him he saw that a coalition interpreter was lying motionless on exposed ground. With complete disregard for his own safety, on his own initiative and alone, Trooper Donaldson ran back eighty metres across exposed ground to rescue the interpreter and carry him back to a vehicle. Trooper Donaldson then rejoined his patrol and continued to engage the enemy while remaining exposed to heavy enemy fire.[36]
Ben Roberts-Smith
Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith MG of the Special Air Service Regiment was awarded the second Victoria Cross for Australia on 23 January 2011.[39] Corporal Roberts-Smith was awarded the medal for single-handedly charging and destroying two Taliban machine gun positions during the Shah Wali Kot Offensive in Afghanistan on 11 June 2010.[39] This act has been described as similar to that of Edward Kenna VC.[40] Corporal Roberts-Smith had previously been awarded a Medal for Gallantry in 2006, and upon receiving the VC became the most highly decorated serving member of the Australian Defence Force.[39]
In 2020, it was reported that Roberts-Smith had offered his Victoria Cross as collateral for a loan from Australian businessman Kerry Stokes to help fund Roberts-Smith's then-ongoing defamation case.[41] In 2023, Roberts-Smith was found to have committed war crimes in Afghanistan.[42][43][44][45][46]
Daniel Keighran
Corporal
Cameron Baird
On 13 February 2014, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that Corporal Cameron Baird of the 2nd Commando Regiment would be awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. Corporal Baird had been awarded the Medal for Gallantry in 2007 and was killed in Afghanistan in 2013.[49]
Edward "Teddy" Sheean
On 12 August 2020, the Queen gave royal assent for Edward "Teddy" Sheean to be awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia. Sheean's case was reviewed three times, the first two reviews came up with conflicting advice. In June 2020, Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison ordered an expert panel to review the decision.[50] On 10 August 2020, Morrison accepted the findings of the panel and recommended the Queen posthumously award Sheean the Victoria Cross for Australia.[51]
Proposed late awards
On 3 April 2001, Senator Chris Schacht, then a member of the Australian Senate, gave notice that on the next day of sitting he would introduce the Award of Victoria Cross for Australia Bill 2001 to award the Victoria Cross for Australia to certain persons. The next sitting day, 4 April 2001, Senator Schacht introduced the bill for three members of the Australian forces to be awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia.[52] The bill was read a first time and Senator Schacht gave his Second Reading Speech in which he said it could be argued that an Act conferring a Victoria Cross for Australia may be beyond the legislative power of the Parliament but he believed that the "naval and military defence of the Commonwealth" power under section 51(vi) of the Constitution gave the Parliament authority to legislate with respect to honours and awards. In accordance with normal procedure the debate was then adjourned. On 1 June 2001, Sid Sidebottom, the Member for Braddon introduced the Defence Act Amendment (Victoria Cross) Bill 2001. The Bill was similar to the Senate bill and Sidebottom also believed that the Parliament had power under section 51(vi) of the Constitution.[53] Neither bill was again debated before the 2001 Australian federal election. Both Senator Schacht and Mr Sidebottom were members of the Australian Labor Party, then in opposition and the issue was included by the then opposition leader Kim Beazley in his campaign in the following General Election.[54] The awards were intended "to raise the profile and recognition of three ordinary Australians, who displayed outstanding bravery."[53]
The awards were to be made posthumously to
In 1965, a campaign to award the Victoria Cross to Simpson resulted in his image with a donkey appearing on the obverse of the Anzac Commemorative Medallion that was announced in 1966 and first issued in 1967. Following the 2007 Australian federal election the Labor party came to power and there was speculation that the 2001 bills may be reintroduced. Historians such as Anthony Staunton, writing in the Australian Journal of Military History, have opined that the Victoria Cross for Australia should not be awarded retrospectively.[57] It was announced on 13 April 2011 that 13 cases of valour would be examined posthumously by the Australian government's Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal. The Tribunal first debated "the eligibility of the 13 to receive the Victoria Cross, the Victoria Cross for Australia or other forms of recognition," before moving on to discuss the individual cases.[58] The recommendations of the inquiry were ultimately submitted to government on 6 February 2013, advocating no awards be made.[59]
Notes
- ^ a b c d "Victoria Cross for Australia" (PDF). Australian Government. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
- ^ "The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards (Modified)" (PDF). DHAM, volume 1. Annex A to Chapter 4. Australian Government, Department of Defence. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
- ^ Commonwealth Gazette No. S25, 4 February 1991, p. 1.
- ^ The order of wearing Australian honours and awards Archived 16 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Commonwealth Gazette No. S192, 28 September 2007, p. 1.
- ^ Victoria Cross Regulations, Commonwealth Gazette No. S25, 4 February 1991, p. 2, Regulation 5.
- ^ a b Victoria Cross Regulations, Commonwealth Gazette No. S25, 4 February 1991, p. 2, Regulation 8.
- ^ Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) s 103
- ^ Ashcroft, Michael, pp. 7–10
- ^ Beharry, Johnson, p. 359
- ^ a b "Hancocks of London History of VC". Hancocks of London. Archived from the original on 27 August 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2007.
- ^ Davies, Catronia (28 December 2005). "Author explodes myth of the gunmetal VC". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
- ^ "Hancocks Jewellers". Hancocks of London. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
- ^ a b c "New Zealand Honours". Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 7 December 2006. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
- ^ Ninety of the 91 members of the Australian forces served in Australian units while Rawdon Middleton, a member of the RAAF, was attached to the Royal Air Force.
- ^ "Victoria Cross". The Government of Australia. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- ^ CTV.ca, News staff (3 March 2007). "Top military honour now cast in Canada". CTV news. Retrieved 24 June 2007.
- ^ "Willie Apiata receives his VC". The New Zealand Herald. APN News & Media. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- ^ Victoria Cross Determination, Commonwealth Gazette No. S315, 18 November 1991, p. 1 Item 1.
- ^ Original Warrant, Clause 1: Firstly. It is ordained that the distinction shall be styled and designated "The Victoria Cross", and shall consist of a Maltese cross of bronze, with our Royal crest in the centre, and underneath with an escroll bearing the inscription "For Valour".
- ^ Ashcroft, Michael, p. 16
- ^ a b "The Victoria Cross". Vietnam Veterans of Australia. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
- ^ "The Victoria Cross". Imperial War Museum Exhibits and Firearms Collections. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2006.
- ^ Macklin, Robert, p. 252
- ^ Macklin, Robert, p. 253
- ^ Victoria Cross Regulations, Commonwealth Gazette No. S25, 4 February 1991, p. 2, Regulation 6.
- ^ Ashcroft, Michael, Introduction
- ^ a b "I'm no hero says Aussie soldier with VC". The Age. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
- ^ The Chief of the Defence Force salutes Trooper Mark Donaldson, VC, Defence Media Release MSPA19/09, 16 January 2009.
- ^ "Veteran's Entitlement Act 1986". Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
- ^ Australian Veteran's Entitlement Act 1986, section 103, (4) Victoria Cross allowance granted to a veteran under this section is payable at the rate of $3,230 per year. Note: The amount fixed by this subsection is indexed annually in line with CPI increases. See section 198FA., "Veteran's Entitlement Act 1986, section 198a". Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 30 June 2007.
- ^ "Veteran's Entitlement Act 1986, Section 102". Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
- ^ "Gallipoli VC medal sets auction record". The Age. 24 July 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
- ^ a b "List of Victoria Crosses Held". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 17 June 2007.
- Lord Ashcroft (16 January 2011). "Fifty great heroes: the brave, the gallant and the extraordinary". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the originalon 20 January 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
- ^ a b "Trooper Mark Gregor Strang Donaldson, VC". Department of Defence. 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 14 February 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
- ^ "Australian SAS soldier Mark Donaldson awarded Victoria Cross". The Australian. 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 5 March 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
- ^ Mark Dodd (12 December 2008). "Aussie special forces crush Taliban leaders in Afghanistan". The Australian. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ a b c "SAS digger awarded VC for taking on Taliban". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australian Associated Press. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
- ^ Dodd, Mark (21 January 2010). "Second SAS Afghan Victoria Cross for heroic charge". The Australian. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
- ^ McKinnell, Jamie (1 June 2023). "Ben Roberts-Smith tried to clear his name — it proved to be an expensive own goal". ABC News. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ Alexander, Michaela Whitbourn, Harriet (1 June 2023). "Ben Roberts-Smith case: Former SAS soldier committed war crimes". The Age.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Dodd, Mark (21 January 2010). "Second SAS Afghan Victoria Cross for heroic charge". The Australian. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
- ^ Whitbourn, Michaela (1 June 2023). "Ben Roberts-Smith case LIVE updates: Major victory delivered to newspapers as former SAS soldier's defamation case dismissed; some war crime, bullying allegations proven". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ Parkes-Hupton, Heath; Stonehouse, Greta (1 June 2023). "Live: Ben Roberts-Smith's major court loss, costs will 'follow inevitably'". ABC News. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "RAR soldier awarded Victoria Cross for Afghan valour". ABC News. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
- ^
"Soldier Honoured with Victoria Cross". Army News. 1 November 2012. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
"Corporal Daniel Alan Keighran, VC". Army News. 1 November 2012. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2012. - ^ "Victoria Cross: Corporal Cameron Baird becomes 100th recipient, PM Tony Abbott tells Parliament". ABC News. 13 February 2014.
- ^ "Scott Morrison orders review of Victoria Cross decision for World War II hero Teddy Sheean". ABC News. 10 June 2020.
- ^ a b "ORDINARY SEAMAN EDWARD 'TEDDY' SHEEAN". Prime Minister of Australia. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ "Parliamentary Debates, Senate" (PDF). Hansard. 1 April 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2008.(pp. 87–89)
- ^ a b "Parliamentary Debates, House of Representatives" (PDF). Hansard. 1 June 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2008.(20–23)
- ^ "Kim Beazley's plans for veterans" (PDF). Australian Labor Party. 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
- ^ "Australia's favourite hero". Anzacs. Retrieved 26 January 2008.
- ^ Wilson, Graham (December 2006). "The Donkey Vote. A VC for Simpson – The Case Against". Sabretache: The Journal and Proceedings of the Military Historical Society of Australia. 47 (4): 25–37.
- ^ Myles-Kelly, Paul (15 January 2008). "Bravery award for war hero blocked". The Shields Gazette. Retrieved 26 January 2008.
- ^ "Awards tribunal to consider 13 posthumous VCs". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
- ^ "Inquiry into unresolved recognition for past acts of naval and military gallantry and valour". Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal. Australian government. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
References
- ISBN 978-0-7553-1632-8.
- ISBN 978-0-316-73321-2.
- ISBN 978-1-74114-882-4. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
- Staunton, Anthony (2005). Victoria Cross: Australia's finest and the battles they fought. Prahan, Victoria, Australia: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74066-288-8.
Further reading
- Compiled by Buzzell, Nora (1997). ISBN 978-0-906324-03-5.
- Duckers, Peter (2006). British Gallantry Awards, 1855–2000. Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire: Shire Publications. ISBN 978-0-7478-0516-8.
- Glanfield, John (2005). Bravest of the Brave. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7509-3695-8.
- ISBN 978-1-84342-356-0.