List of Australian Victoria Cross recipients

The Australian War Memorial which currently holds 66 VCs.

The Victoria Cross (VC) is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy"[1] to members of the Australia Armed Forces. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service, and to civilians under military command. Being the highest award in the Australian Honours Order of Wearing, the Victoria Cross takes precedence over all other postnominals and Australian orders and decorations. The Victoria Cross was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856, initially to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. Because of its rarity and inherent significance, the VC is highly prized, both as an award and as a collector's item, with one medal being sold for over A$1 million at auction.[2] Australians have received the Victoria Cross under the Imperial honours system and later under the Australian Honours System, when in 1991 a new but equivalent award was established by letters patent within the Commonwealth of Australia and its Territories, known as the Victoria Cross for Australia. The Victoria Cross for Australia has been awarded four times: twice to Special Air Service Regiment members, once to a member of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and a posthumous award to a member of the 2nd Commando Regiment. All four were for actions in the War in Afghanistan.

The Imperial Victoria Cross has been awarded to ninety-six Australians—91 were received for actions whilst serving with Australian forces, and another 5 were received for actions whilst serving with South African and British forces. The majority of the awards were for action in the First World War when a total of 64 medals were awarded. Nine of these awards were for action during the Gallipoli Campaign. 20 medals were awarded for action in the Second World War, 6 in the Second Boer War, 4 in the Vietnam War and 2 in the Russian Civil War.[1] Twenty-eight Australians have been awarded the medal posthumously.[3] Notably, one recipient—Captain Alfred Shout VC, MC (who was also Mentioned in Despatches)—was Australia's most decorated soldier of the Gallipoli campaign. His Victoria Cross was posthumously awarded after Shout died of his wounds during the Battle of Lone Pine.[4] Another nineteen VCs have been awarded to soldiers who were either born in Australia, or died there, but did not serve in Australian units and as such these are not included in this list.[5]

With the death of Edward Kenna on 8 July 2009, Keith Payne is the only living recipient of the original Victoria Cross; three recipients of the Victoria Cross for Australia are still serving in the Australian Defence Force.

Recipients

  This along with the *, indicates that the Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously
AWM = This denotes that the medal is held at the Australian War Memorial

Victoria Cross

Name
Date of
action
Conflict
Unit
Place of action
Location of medal
Anderson, CharlesCharles Anderson1942Second World War2/19th BattalionMuar River, MalayaAWM[6]
Axford, ThomasThomas Axford1918First World War16th BattalionHamel Wood, FranceAWM[6]
Badcoe, PeterPeter Badcoe1967*Vietnam WarAustralian Army Training TeamHuong Tra, Vietnam AWM[7]
Beatham, RobertRobert Beatham1918*First World War8th BattalionRosieres, FranceQueensland Museum
South Bank[8][9]
Bell, FrederickFrederick Bell1901Second Boer WarWest Australia Mounted InfantryTransvaal, South Africa Western Australian
Museum[10]
Birks, FrederickFrederick Birks1917*First World War6th BattalionYpres, BelgiumAWM[6]
Bisdee, JohnJohn Bisdee1900Second Boer WarTasmanian Imperial BushmenWarm Bad, South Africa Tasmanian Museum
and Art Gallery[11]
Blackburn, ArthurArthur Blackburn1916First World War10th BattalionPozières, FranceAWM[6]
Borella, AlbertAlbert Borella1918First World War26th BattalionVillers-Bretonneux, France Privately held
Brown, WalterWalter Brown1918First World War20th BattalionVillers-Bretonneux, FranceAWM[6]
Buckley, AlexanderAlexander Buckley1918*First World War54th BattalionPéronne, FranceAWM[6]
Buckley, MauriceMaurice Buckley1918First World War13th BattalionLe Verguier, FranceAWM[6]
Bugden, PatrickPatrick Bugden1917*First World War31st BattalionZonnebeke, BelgiumQueensland Museum
South Bank[8]
Burton, AlexanderAlexander Burton1915*First World War7th BattalionGallipoli, TurkeyAWM[6]
Carroll, JohnJohn Carroll1917First World War33rd BattalionSt. Yves, BelgiumAWM[6]
Cartwright, GeorgeGeorge Cartwright1918First World War33rd BattalionBouchavesnes, France Imperial War Museum
London[12]
Castleton, ClaudClaud Castleton1916*First World WarAustralian Machine Gun CorpsPozières, FranceAWM[6]
Cherry, PercyPercy Cherry1917*First World War26th BattalionLagnicourt, FranceAWM[6]
Chowne, AlbertAlbert Chowne1945*Second World War2/2nd BattalionDagua, New GuineaAWM[6]
Cooke, ThomasThomas Cooke1916*First World War8th BattalionPozières, France Army Museum
New Zealand[13]
Currey, WilliamWilliam Currey1918First World War53rd BattalionPéronne, FranceAWM[6]
Cutler, RodenRoden Cutler1941Second World War2/5th Field Regiment, RRoAAMerdjayoun-Damour, LebanonAWM[6]
Dalziel, HenryHenry Dalziel1918First World War15th BattalionHamel Wood, France AWM[6]
Dartnell, WilburWilbur Dartnell1915*First World War25th (Service) Battalion, Royal FusiliersMaktau, KenyaAWM[6]
Davey, PhillipPhillip Davey1918First World War10th BattalionMerris, FranceAWM[6]
Derrick, TomTom Derrick1943Second World War2/48th BattalionSattelberg, New GuineaAWM[6]
Dunstan, WilliamWilliam Dunstan1915First World War7th BattalionGallipoli, TurkeyAWM[6]
Dwyer, JohnJohn Dwyer1917First World WarAustralian Machine Gun CorpsZonnebeke, BelgiumAWM[6]
Edmondson, JohnJohn Edmondson1941*Second World War2/17th BattalionTobruk, LibyaAWM[6]
Edwards, HughieHughie Edwards1941Second World WarNo. 105 Squadron RAFBremen, GermanyAWM[6]
French, JackJack French1942*Second World War2/9th BattalionMilne Bay, Papua Privately held
Gaby, AlfredAlfred Gaby1918*First World War28th BattalionVillers-Bretonneux, France Tasmanian Museum
and Art Gallery[11]
Gordon, BernardBernard Gordon1918First World War41st BattalionBray, FranceAWM[6]
Gordon, JimJim Gordon1941Second World War2/31st BattalionDjezzine, Syria Privately held
Gratwick, PercyPercy Gratwick1942*Second World War2/4th BattalionEl Alamein, Egypt Army Museum of
Western Australia[14]
Grieve, RobertRobert Grieve1917First World War37th BattalionMessines, Belgium Shrine of Remembrance
Melbourne[15][16]
Gurney, StanStan Gurney1942*Second World War2/48th BattalionTel-el-Eisa, EgyptAWM[6]
Hall, ArthurArthur Hall1918First World War54th BattalionPéronne, FranceAWM[6]
Hamilton, JohnJohn Hamilton1915First World War3rd BattalionGallipoli, TurkeyAWM[6]
Howell, GeorgeGeorge Howell1917First World War1st BattalionBullecourt, FranceAWM[6]
Howse, NevilleNeville Howse1900Second Boer WarNew South Wales Medical Staff CorpsVredefort, South AfricaAWM[6]
Ingram, GeorgeGeorge Ingram1918First World War24th BattalionMontbrehain, FranceAWM[6]
Inwood, RoyRoy Inwood1917First World War10th BattalionPolygon Wood, BelgiumAdelaide Town Hall[17]
Jacka, AlbertAlbert Jacka1915First World War14th BattalionGallipoli, TurkeyAWM[6]
Jackson, WilliamWilliam Jackson1916First World War17th BattalionArmentieres, France Privately held
Jeffries, ClarenceClarence Jeffries1917*First World War34th BattalionPasschendaele, BelgiumChrist Church Cathedral,
Newcastle, N.S.W.[18]
Jensen, JørgenJørgen Jensen1917First World War50th BattalionNoreuil, FranceAWM[6]
Joynt, WilliamWilliam Joynt1918First World War8th BattalionHerleville Wood, France Privately held[19]
Kelliher, RichardRichard Kelliher1943Second World War2/25th BattalionNadzab, New GuineaAWM[6]
Kenna, EdwardEdward Kenna1945Second World War2/4th BattalionWewak, New Guinea unknown[20]
Kenny, BedeBede Kenny1917First World War2nd BattalionHermies, FranceAWM[6]
Keysor, LeonardLeonard Keysor1915First World War1st BattalionGallipoli, TurkeyAWM[6]
Kibby, BillBill Kibby1942*Second World War2/48th BattalionEl Alamein, EgyptAWM[6]
Kingsbury, BruceBruce Kingsbury1942*Second World War2/14th BattalionIsurava, PapuaAWM[6]
Leak, JohnJohn Leak1916First World War9th BattalionPozières, France Privately held
Lowerson, AlbyAlby Lowerson1918First World War21st BattalionMont St. Quentin, FranceAWM[6]
Mackey, JackJack Mackey1945*Second World War2/3rd Pioneer BattalionTarakan Island, BorneoAWM[6]
MacTier, RobertRobert MacTier1918*First World War23rd BattalionMont St. Quentin, FranceAWM[6]
Maxwell, JosephJoseph Maxwell1918First World War18th BattalionEstrees, FranceAWM[6]
Maygar, LeslieLeslie Maygar1901Second Boer War5th Victorian Mounted RiflesGeelhoutboom, South AfricaAWM[6]
McCarthy, DominicDominic McCarthy1918First World War16th BattalionMadam Wood, FranceAWM[6]
McDougall, StanleyStanley McDougall1918First World War47th BattalionDernancourt, FranceAWM[6]
McGee, LewisLewis McGee1917*First World War40th BattalionYpres, BelgiumQueen Victoria Museum
and Art Gallery,
Launceston[21]
McNamara, FrankFrank McNamara1917First World WarNo. 1 Squadron AFCTel el Hesi, Palestine RAF Museum, London[22]
Middleton, RonRon Middleton1942*Second World WarRAAF attached No. 149 Squadron RAFTurin, ItalyAWM[6]
Moon, MickMick Moon1917First World War58th BattalionBullecourt, FranceAWM[6]
Murray, HarryHarry Murray1917First World War13th BattalionGueudecourt, FranceAWM
Newland, JamesJames Newland1917First World War12th BattalionBapaume, FranceAWM[6]
Newton, BillBill Newton1943*Second World WarNo. 22 Squadron RAAFNew GuineaAWM[6]
O'Meara, MartinMartin O'Meara1916First World War16th BattalionPozières, FranceArmy Museum of
Western Australia[14]
Partridge, FrankFrank Partridge1945Second World War8th (Militia) BattalionBougainville, New Guinea Privately held
Payne, KeithKeith Payne1969Vietnam WarAustralian Army Training TeamBen Het, VietnamAWM[6]
Pearse, SamuelSamuel Pearse1919*North Russia Relief Force45th Battalion, RFEmtsa, RussiaAWM[6]
Peeler, WalterWalter Peeler1917First World War3rd Pioneer BattalionYpres, BelgiumAWM[6]
Pope, CharlesCharles Pope1917*First World War11th BattalionLouveral, FranceAWM[6]
Rattey, RegReg Rattey1945Second World War25th BattalionBougainville, New Guinea Privately held
Rogers, JamesJames Rogers1901Second Boer WarSouth African ConstabularyThaba 'Nchu, South AfricaAWM[6]
Ruthven, WilliamWilliam Ruthven1918First World War22nd BattalionVille-sur-Ancre, FranceAWM[6]
Ryan, JohnJohn Ryan1918First World War55th BattalionHindenburg Defences, FranceAWM[6]
Sadlier, CliffordClifford Sadlier1918First World War51st BattalionVillers-Bretonneux, FranceSt George's Cathedral
Perth W.A.[23]
Shout, AlfredAlfred Shout1915*First World War1st BattalionGallipoli, TurkeyAWM[6]
Simpson, RayRay Simpson1969Vietnam WarAustralian Army Training TeamKontum Province, VietnamAWM[6]
Starcevich, LeslieLeslie Starcevich1945Second World War2/43rd BattalionBeaufort, British North BorneoArmy Museum of
Western Australia[14]
Statton, PercyPercy Statton1918First World War40th BattalionProyart, FranceAWM[6]
Storkey, PercyPercy Storkey1918First World War19th BattalionHangard Wood, France Army Museum
New Zealand[13]
Sullivan, ArthurArthur Sullivan1919North Russia Relief Force45th Battalion, RF Sheika River, RussiaAWM[6]
Symons, WilliamWilliam Symons1915First World War7th BattalionGallipoli, TurkeyAWM[6]
Throssell, HugoHugo Throssell1915First World War10th Light HorseGallipoli, TurkeyAWM[6]
Towner, EdgarEdgar Towner1918First World WarAustralian Machine Gun CorpsMont St. Quentin, France Privately held
Tubb, FrederickFrederick Tubb1915First World War7th BattalionGallipoli, TurkeyAWM[6]
Wark, BlairBlair Wark1918First World War32nd BattalionBellicourt, FranceQueensland Museum
South Bank[8][24]
Weathers, LawrenceLawrence Weathers1918First World War43rd BattalionPeronne, France Privately held
Wheatley, KevinKevin Wheatley1965*Vietnam WarAustralian Army Training TeamTra Bong, VietnamAWM[6]
Whittle, JohnJohn Whittle1917First World War12th BattalionBoursies, France AWM[6][25]
Woods, JamesJames Woods1918First World War48th BattalionLe Verguier, FranceAWM[6]
Wylly, GuyGuy Wylly1900Second Boer WarTasmanian Imperial BushmenWarm Bad, South Africa Tasmanian Museum
and Art Gallery[11]

Victoria Cross for Australia

Name
Date of
action
Conflict
Unit
Place of action
Location of medal
Donaldson, MarkMark Donaldson2008War in AfghanistanSpecial Air Service RegimentUrozgan Province, AfghanistanAWM[6][26]
Roberts-Smith, BenBen Roberts-Smith2010War in AfghanistanSpecial Air Service RegimentKandahar Province, AfghanistanAWM[6][27]
Keighran, DanielDaniel Keighran2010War in Afghanistan6th Battalion, Royal Australian RegimentUrozgan Province, Afghanistan AWM[6]
Baird, CameronCameron Baird2013*War in Afghanistan2nd Commando RegimentKhod Valley, Afghanistan AWM

References

General
Specific
  1. 1 2 "VC for Australia" (PDF). Australian Government. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  2. ↑ "Gallipoli VC medal sets auction record". The Age. 2006-07-24. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  3. ↑ Wigmore 1986, p. 14.
  4. ↑ "Bravery awards at Gallipoli". Australian Government, Department of Veterans' Affairs. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
  5. ↑ Wigmore 1986, pp. 180–187.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 "Victoria Crosses held at the Memorial". Australian War Memorial.
  7. ↑ "Major Badcoe's Victoria Cross" (PDF). South Australian Museum. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
    "The Victoria Cross - Major Peter Badcoe" (PDF). South Australian Museum.
  8. 1 2 3 "Victoria Cross". Queensland Museum South Bank. Government of Queensland. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  9. ↑ Robert Beatham's medal, owned by Mr Neil Jenman and Mrs Ruth Jenman, is on loan to the Queensland Museum until 2012.
  10. ↑ Lieutenant Colonel Frederick William Bell, victoriacross.org.uk
  11. 1 2 3 VC medals in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, victoriacross.org.uk
  12. ↑ Anthony Staunton, Cartwright, George (1894 - 1978), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 13, Melbourne University Press, 1993, p. 379. Retrieved on 2009-03-03.
  13. 1 2 VC medals in the Army Museum, New Zealand, victoriacross.org.uk
  14. 1 2 3 Items of significance, Army Museum of Western Australia, 4 January 2009. Retrieved on 2009-03-03.
  15. ↑ Wilson, Neil (2003-08-09). "Rise & shrine". Herald Sun. p. 6.
  16. ↑ Robert Grieve's medal is on loan to the Shrine by its owners, Wesley College
  17. ↑ "Reginald Roy Inwood's - Victoria Cross Medal". Adelaide City Council. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  18. ↑ Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries Memorial Park (Abermain), Register of War Memorials in New South Wales, 2002. Retrieved on 2009-03-03.
  19. ↑ William Joynt's VC medal is thought to be held at Melbourne Grammar School.
  20. ↑ Kenna's VC had been on loan to the AWM since 9 April 2010 - see AWM Media Release 335 - but no longer appears on the War Memorial's list of Victoria Crosses held at the Memorial.
  21. ↑ Co Sergeant Major Lewis McGee, victoriacross.org.uk
  22. ↑ VC medals in the RAF Museum, London, victoriacross.org.uk
  23. ↑ "A History and Detailed Guide to St George's Cathedral", Revised 2007, pp.10&14. Retrieved on 2009-03-03.
  24. ↑ Blair Wark's medal, owned by the United Service Club Queensland, is on loan to the Queensland Museum until 2012.
  25. ↑ Whittle's VC has been on loan to the AWM since October 2009 - see AWM Media Release 296.
  26. ↑ Donaldson's VC has been on loan to the AWM since January 2009 - see AWM Media Release 215.
  27. ↑ "Australia's latest Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG views his newly installed panel and medal display for the first time" (PDF). Media alert. Australian War Memorial. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2011.

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