Unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Services 

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  • It is awarded to men who perform deeds of great heroism under fire.
  • However because of it's unique place as the world's most prestigious decoration it is (now) very carefully rationed.
  • One example is the Battle of Long Tan. In my opinion at least 1 and probably more soldiers should have qualified for the VC but were not even considered.
  • These pages are to recognise the other heroes, the ones who didn't win a VC but who performed above and beyond the call of duty or  
    • in some different from the normal way that makes their story interesting.
  • They are heroes, every one . . .
Sir William Rooke CRESWELL, KBE, KCMG Father of the RAN
Major General Edward Hutton Father of ARMY
Major General George S Whitmore. NZ's 1st Commandant
Lieutenant-General Sir Edward MACARTHUR Wool & a military career.
Henry Parke AIREY CMG, Australia's 1st DSO
Colonel Percy Ralph Ricadro, C.B. "The Father of QMI"
Sub inspector (later Colonel) Thomas William Porter CB
Captain (later Colonel) William Bazire Messenger of the Taranaki Militia,
Captain (later Major) Thomas Broun 1st Regiment of Waikato Militia
Some of the men who served in AN & MEF
Monash, our most respected soldier 
General Harry Chauvel of the Australian Light Horse
Sir William "Charge at Beersheba" GRANT CMG, DSO & bar
Charles Edward Woodrow (CEW) Bean, Australia's WW1 historian
Sir Ross Macpherson SMITH KBE MC & bar DFC & 2 bars AFC
Lt Colonel & Air Commodore Robert CHRISTIE, DSO & bar, MiD, CdeG (B)
Sergeant Olive Kelso King The nurse who made her reputation in Serbia
The Boy 16 years old and killed at Beersheba

Warrant Officer Class 2 Carl Masters NZEF

Simpson; the man with the donkey
Lieutenant General Stanley George Savige of Dunsterforce
Kingsford-Smith MC The famous flyer was also a decorated war hero
Sir Thomas William Glasgow a 3 war hero from Queensland
Bage The polar hero killed at Gallipoli
Schwartz MC & bar MiD "the deserter"
Beechey Boys; War took five of eight sons, another was crippled.
Sister Kenny, WW1 nurse & polio fighter
Sergeant Barrie Watts Phillips Fought in the Boer War & survived the Nek
Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop, jungle surgeon
Rear Admiral Farncomb Unassuming naval hero
Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park The Kiwi that changed the war
Percival Landon Bazeley; Australia's WW2 Penicillin hero
The White Mouse; our most decorated female Behind the lines valour
Hore-Ruthven VC Governor General in wartime
General Sir John NORTHCOTT,  KCMG, KCVO, MVO, CB, KstJ
Group Captain C R "Killer" Caldwell, 1 Fighter Wing, RAAF
Squadron Leader Keith William 'Bluey' Truscott, DFC & bar
Field Marshal Rt Hon William Slim, Viscount Slim
Rt Hon. Sir John Grey Gorton, GCMG, AC, CH (RAAF)
Hon. Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC (RAAF)
Charlie Green of 3RAR Great leader lost before his time
Capt Reg Saunders MBE 1st aboriginal Commissioned Army Officer
Chaplain's Story "They also served"
W J Rowlinson DCM & Bar Most highly decorated of Korean War
Alice Ross-King MM ARRC (Alys Ross) A nurse decorated for Bravery
Aussie Marine A Digger in the USMC
Lanc Crew A famous Lancaster crew from the Battle for Europe 
Corey MM. 4 Military medals only time ever
Joe (Joseph) Hak  (Hohepa Hakaria) RNZA
The Recruit (NZ)
General Peter Cosgrove AC MC, CDF Australia
Private Vilipate, Niue Detachment 3rd Maori Reinforcements NZEF
Girl Gunner NZ: In the Footsteps of Their Fathers

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Digger History:  an unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Forces