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Australian Victoria Cross Winners |
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Tobruk,
Libya. 25 April 1953. Group portrait of five Victoria Cross winners,
members of the Australian and New Zealand Coronation Contingent, in the
Tobruk War Cemetery, during their brief stay while on their way to
England to attend the coronation of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
They are, left to right: Private (Pte) F. J. Partridge VC, (Australia);
Pte E. Kenna VC, (Australia); 215003 Sergeant J. D. Hinton VC, (New
Zealand); Pte R. Kelliher VC, (Australia); Sergeant R. R. Rattey VC.
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"It is ordained that the Cross shall only be awarded for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy." |
| The Victoria Cross for Australia was established on 15 Jan 1991 as the highest Australian operational gallantry award. It supersedes the Victoria Cross instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856 but is physically identical and carries the same award criteria. No awards have yet been gazetted. |
The
Australian War Memorial displays 59 Victoria Crosses,
the largest publicly held collection in the world. The
Victoria Crosses are displayed together in the Memorial's
Hall of Valour. These VC's have been donated, or loaned,
to the Memorial by individuals, families, or by unit
associations, to be displayed for the nation.
Included in the VC collection are the medals of Sir Neville Howse who won the award in the Boer War becoming Australia's first VC. There are eight of nine (9) crosses awarded to Australians for the Gallipoli campaign including the medals of the legendary Albert Jacka VC MC and bar. The collection also includes the cross of the first Australian winner of the Second World War, Corporal John Edmondson who died in the exploit at Tobruk for which the award was made. The medals of Bomber Command hero Sir Hughie Edwards; the medals of the Tom Derrick VC DCM who was mourned by the nation when he ultimately fell at Tarakan in 1945; and the medals of Warrant Officer 'Dasher' Wheatley who fought a fatal 'last stand' action beside a wounded mate in Vietnam are displayed. |
| ANDERSON
C.G.W. Only
VC to the 8th Division AIF Unit: 2/19th Battalion  Date of Action: 18-22 January 1942 Place of Action: Muar River, Malaya Conflict: World War 2 AXFORD
T.L. Awarded the MM, then VC, served in WW2 Unit: Australian Army Training Team Viet Nam (AATTV)
Date of Action: 23 February – 7 April 1967 Place of Action: Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam Conflict: Vietnam War Posthumous BEATHAM
R.M. Silenced 4 machine gun positions Unit: West Australian Mounted Infantry Date of Action: 16 May 1901 Place of Action: Brakpan, Transvaal Conflict: South Africa 1899-1902 (Boer War) BIRKS
F. Served at Anzac, VC at Ypres Unit: Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen Date of Action: 1 September 1900 Place of Action: Warm Bad, Transvaal Conflict: South Africa 1899-1902 (Boer War) BLACKBURN
A.S.
Gained
most ground at Anzac Unit:26th Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 17 - 18 July 1918 Place of Action: Villers-Bretonneux, France Conflict: World War 1 BROWN
W.E. VC in WW1, killed in Defence of Singapore Unit:54th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 1 September 1918 Place of Action: Peronne, France Conflict: World War 1 Posthumous BUCKLEY
M.V. From deserter to VC & DCM winner Unit:31st Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 26 - 28 September 1917 Place of Action: Polygon Wood, near Ypres, Belgium Conflict: World War 1 Posthumous BURTON
A.S.
* 1
of 3 VCs in the same action Unit:33rd Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 7 - 10 June 1917 Place of Action: Messines Ridge, St Yves, Belgium Conflict: World War 1 CARTWRIGHT
G. Shot 3, captured a MG & 9 prisoners Unit:5th Australian Machine-gun Company
Date of Action: 28 July 1916 Place of Action: Pozieres, France Conflict: World War 1 Posthumous CHERRY
P.H. VC & MC same
day, different actions Unit:2/2nd Infantry Bn, 6th Division AIF
Date of Action: 25 March 1945 Place of Action: Dagua, New Guinea Conflict: World War 2 Posthumous COOKE
T. Last man on the gun, he fought to the death. Unit:53rd Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 1 September 1918 Place of Action: Near Peronne, France Conflict: World War 1 CUTLER
A.R.
Became Governor of NSW Unit:15th Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 4 July 1918 Place of Action: Hamel Wood, France Conflict: World War 1 DARTNELL
W.T. Serving in non
Australian Unit Unit:10th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 28 June 1918 Place of Action: Merris, France Conflict: World War 1 DERRICK
T.C.
Served at Tobruk, VC in New
Guinea Unit:7th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 9 August 1915 Place of Action: Lone Pine trenches, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey Conflict: World War 1 DWYER
J.J. Captured a MG and used it against enemy Unit:2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 13 April 1941 Place of Action: Tobruk, Libya Conflict: World War 2 Posthumous EDWARDS
H.I. A Royal Air Force VC Unit:2/9th Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 4 September 1942 Place of Action: Milne Bay, New Guinea Conflict: World War 2 Posthumous GABY
A.E. Captured 4 MGs & 50 prisoners Unit:41st Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 27 August 1918 Place of Action: Fargny Wood, east of Bray, France Conflict: World War 1 GORDON
J.H. Attacked under intense machine gun fire Unit:2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 25 – 26 October 1942 Place of Action: Battle of El Alamein, Egypt Conflict: World War 2 Posthumous GRIEVE
R.C. G/Nephew of VC from Charge
of Light Brigade Unit:2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 22 July 1942 Place of Action: Tel el Eisa, Egypt Conflict: World War 2 Posthumous HALL
A.C. "Brilliant leadership and devotion to duty" Unit:3rd Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 9 August 1915 Place of Action: Lone Pine trenches, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey Conflict: World War 1 HOWELL
G.J. "Snowy"
Wounded 3 times. Unit: New South Wales Medical Staff Corps
Date of Action: 24 July 1900 Place of Action: Vredefort, Orange Free State Conflict: South Africa 1899-1902 (Boer War) INGRAM
G.M. 10 MGs captured, over 100 enemy out of action Unit:10th Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 20 – 21 September 1917 Place of Action: Polygon Wood, east of Ypres, Belgium Conflict: World War 1 JACKA
A. 1st VC to
Australian in WW1 Unit:17th Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 25 – 26 June 1916 Place of Action: Southeast of Bois Grenier, near Armentieres, France Conflict: World War 1 JEFFRIES
C.S. Passchendaele VC winner Unit:50th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 2 April 1917 Place of Action: Noreuil, France Conflict: World War 1 JOYNT
W.D. Took command of his Company in attack Unit:2/25th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 13 September 1943 Place of Action: Near Nadzab, New Guinea Conflict: World War 2 KENNA
E. Attacked 3 machine gun posts Unit:2nd Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 9 April 1917 Place of Action: Hermies, France Conflict: World War 1 KEYSOR
L.M. VC won at Lone Pine
Gallipoli Unit:2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 23 – 31 October 1942 Place of Action: Battle of El Alamein, Egypt Conflict: World War 2 Posthumous KINGSBURY
B.S. 1st VC won on
Australian Territory Unit:9th Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 23 July 1916 Place of Action: Pozieres, France Conflict: World War 1 LOWERSON
A.D. Mont St Quentin VC Unit:2/3rd Pioneer Battalion AIF
Date of Action: 12 May 1945 Place of Action: Tarakan Island, East Indies Conflict: World War 2 Posthumous MACTIER
R. Another Mont St Quentin VC Unit:18th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 3 October 1918 Place of Action: Beaurevoir Line, near Estrees, France Conflict: World War 1 MAYGAR
L.C. "Elsie" VC in Sth Africa, killed at
Beersheba Unit:16th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 23 August 1918 Place of Action: Near Madame Wood, west of Vermandovillers, France Conflict: World War 1 McDOUGALL
S.R. Won the VC and later the MM Unit:40th Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 4 October 1917 Place of Action: East of Ypres, Belgium Conflict: World War 1 Posthumous: No, but was killed before he knew of award. McNAMARA
F.H. Australian Flying Corps VC (1st air VC) Unit:149 Squadron, RAF
Date of Action: 28 - 29 November 1942 Place of Action: Raid on Turin, Italy Conflict: World War 2 Posthumous MOON
R.V. Wounded 4 times during the attack. Unit:13th Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 4 – 5 February 1917 Place of Action: Stormy Trench, northeast of Gueudecourt, France Conflict: World War 1 NEWLAND
J.E. Oldest AIF VC winner Unit: 22 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
Date of Action: 16 March 1943 Place of Action: Salamaua Isthmus, New Guinea Conflict: World War 2 Posthumous O’MEARA
M. A VC to a Stretcher Bearer Unit:8th Bn, 2nd Australian Corp AMF Date of Action: 24 July 1945 Place of Action: Bonis Peninsula, Bougainville Conflict: World War 2 PAYNE
K. Last
Imperial VC to an Australian Unit:45th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers Date of Action: 29 August 1919 Place of Action: North of Etnas, North Russia Conflict: North Russia 1919 PEELER
W. Also awarded the BEM Unit:11th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 15 April 1917 Place of Action: Louverval, France Conflict: World War 1 Posthumous RATTEY
R.R. 1st VC to a member
of a Militia Battalion Unit: South African Constabulary
Date of Action: 15 June 1901 Place of Action: Thaba ‘Nucha, Orange Free State Conflict: South Africa 1899-1902 (Boer War) RUTHVEN
W. Served in both World Wars Unit:55th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 30 September 1918 Place of Action: Near Bullecourt, France Conflict: World War 1 SADLIER
C.W.K. Won VC at Villers Bretonneux Unit:13th Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 18 September 1918 Place of Action: Le Verguier Conflict: World War 1 SHOUT
A.J. A Kiwi in the AIF Unit: Australian Army Training Team
Date of Action: 6 and 11 May 1969 Place of Action: Kontum Province, South Vietnam Conflict: Vietnam War STARCEVICH
L.T.
Silenced 4 machine gun posts Unit:40th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 12 August 1918 Place of Action: Near Proyart, France Conflict: World War 1 STORKEY
P.V. A Kiwi in the AIF Unit:45th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers Date of Action: 10 August 1919 Place of Action: Dvina River, south of Archangel, North Russia Conflict: North Russia 1919 SYMONS
W.J.
VC at Lone Pine, LtCol in
Home Guard in WW2 Unit:10th Light Horse Regiment
Date of Action: 29 – 30 August 1915 Place of Action: Hill 60, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey Conflict: World War 1 TOWNER
E.T. Also awarded the MC, MiD & CdeG Unit:7th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 9 August 1915 Place of Action: Lone Pine trenches, Gallipoli, Turkey Conflict: World War 1 WARK
B.A. VC DSO and 2 wars Unit:43rd Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 2 September 1918 Place of Action: North of Peronne, France Conflict: World War 1 WHEATLEY
K.A. "Dasher" Died protecting a mate Unit:12th Australian Infantry Battalion Date of Action: 8 April and 15 April 1917 Place of Action: West of Boursies and Lagincourt, France Conflict: World War 1 WOODS
J.P. 480 prisoners in attack
he commanded Unit:1st Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen Date of Action: 1 September 1900 Place of Action: Warm Bad, Transvaal Conflict: South Africa 1899-1902 (Boer War) |
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