Comments on: The Victoria Cross http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2009/01/22/the-victoria-cross/ Blog Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:01:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Mark Donaldson VC http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2009/01/22/the-victoria-cross/comment-page-1/#comment-6014 Mark Donaldson VC Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:13:28 +0000 http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/?p=2033#comment-6014 Hi, thanks for the nice words from some of you and the level of discussion and interest in this matter. I would like to clarify a few things however. To Francis Noonan's comments I would like to say a VC is a VC. The British do recognize it. It is made from the same metal and goes through the same criteria to meet their standards. Ik know this because I have met the people in England that had sat on the board in the MOD(ministry of Defence) and the British honors tribunal. I can also say with absolute fact that they have not relaxed standards of criteria for the award. There have been multiple and multiple cases in England alone that probably deserve it but for some reason or another they have down graded it. I'm talking Afghanistan here. The MOD said they would not change their criteria just so there can be more VC's in the world. Additionally, like Harry, I wear it with absolute pride for what not only my mates did that day in achieving our mission but also that 2008 trip but as well what the whole of SASR has done in Afghanistan in recent years. There has been a lot of interest in SASR in the past two years however by no means do we go looking for that interest. I am extremely proud of those whom I fight alongside and continue to do so. I have seen a man shot through the head and get up to keep fighting. Guys been blown apart and keep fighting. Yet they have gotten no recognition as I'm sure hundreds and thousands have not since we have been fighting as a nation ever since the Boer war. Therefore it is especially important to me to not only wear the, first VC of Australia but also be the 97th VC Australia has had bestowed upon it, with absolute pride. Words cannot describe how immensely proud I am of Australia as a fighting force which is bar none to any other. As Harry, I owe my life to my mates and every time we are asked to stand and fight for Australia I will be there next to my mates. Hi, thanks for the nice words from some of you and the level of discussion and interest in this matter.
I would like to clarify a few things however.

To Francis Noonan’s comments I would like to say a VC is a VC. The British do recognize it. It is made from the same metal and goes through the same criteria to meet their standards. Ik know this because I have met the people in England that had sat on the board in the MOD(ministry of Defence) and the British honors tribunal.

I can also say with absolute fact that they have not relaxed standards of criteria for the award. There have been multiple and multiple cases in England alone that probably deserve it but for some reason or another they have down graded it. I’m talking Afghanistan here. The MOD said they would not change their criteria just so there can be more VC’s in the world.

Additionally, like Harry, I wear it with absolute pride for what not only my mates did that day in achieving our mission but also that 2008 trip but as well what the whole of SASR has done in Afghanistan in recent years. There has been a lot of interest in SASR in the past two years however by no means do we go looking for that interest. I am extremely proud of those whom I fight alongside and continue to do so. I have seen a man shot through the head and get up to keep fighting. Guys been blown apart and keep fighting. Yet they have gotten no recognition as I’m sure hundreds and thousands have not since we have been fighting as a nation ever since the Boer war. Therefore it is especially important to me to not only wear the, first VC of Australia but also be the 97th VC Australia has had bestowed upon it, with absolute pride. Words cannot describe how immensely proud I am of Australia as a fighting force which is bar none to any other.

As Harry, I owe my life to my mates and every time we are asked to stand and fight for Australia I will be there next to my mates.

]]> By: Geoffrey Wilson http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2009/01/22/the-victoria-cross/comment-page-1/#comment-5931 Geoffrey Wilson Tue, 01 Feb 2011 22:41:23 +0000 http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/?p=2033#comment-5931 Do you think the the Imperial award will ever be given again to an Australian / New Zealander / Canadian for gallantry? Would it take a declared war rather then peace keeping missions for the Imperial award to be received? I have been debating this issue with my brother who is a medal collector and sometime amateur war historian. My brother also has a minature VC in his collection that so far we haven't been able to validate it. Are the minatures made from the same metal as the official award? Do you think the the Imperial award will ever be given again to an Australian / New Zealander / Canadian for gallantry? Would it take a declared war rather then peace keeping missions for the Imperial award to be received? I have been debating this issue with my brother who is a medal collector and sometime amateur war historian.
My brother also has a minature VC in his collection that so far we haven’t been able to validate it. Are the minatures made from the same metal as the official award?

]]> By: Geoff Bradley http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2009/01/22/the-victoria-cross/comment-page-1/#comment-5745 Geoff Bradley Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:43:14 +0000 http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/?p=2033#comment-5745 I think this is the sergeant mentioned above. A recent radio interview for Adelaide radio. http://blogs.abc.net.au/sa/2010/12/behind-the-lines-of-the-special-air-service-regiment.html?site=adelaide&program=adelaide_breakfast I think this is the sergeant mentioned above. A recent radio interview for Adelaide radio.

http://blogs.abc.net.au/sa/2010/12/behind-the-lines-of-the-special-air-service-regiment.html?site=adelaide&program=adelaide_breakfast

]]> By: Mark Korff http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2009/01/22/the-victoria-cross/comment-page-1/#comment-5705 Mark Korff Fri, 03 Dec 2010 22:43:26 +0000 http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/?p=2033#comment-5705 I noticed this interview on the SBS website. This is the Sergeant mentioned above who was involved in the same ambush as Mark Donaldson VC. He says he was the one who got behind a bullbar to escape the ambush, after being shot twice. http://www.sbs.com.au/documentary/program/sasthesearchforwarriors/about/crew/article/131/blogs_article.php It has some interesting personal information on his background and motivation for joining SAS. Apparently, he is now an instructor helping run the SAS Selection course. http://www.blackfive.net/main/2008/10/not-surprised-.html I'm looking forward to seeing 'SAS- The search for warriors' documentary about the Australian SAS selection. I noticed this interview on the SBS website. This is the Sergeant mentioned above who was involved in the same ambush as Mark Donaldson VC. He says he was the one who got behind a bullbar to escape the ambush, after being shot twice.
http://www.sbs.com.au/documentary/program/sasthesearchforwarriors/about/crew/article/131/blogs_article.php
It has some interesting personal information on his background and motivation for joining SAS.
Apparently, he is now an instructor helping run the SAS Selection course.
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2008/10/not-surprised-.html
I’m looking forward to seeing ‘SAS- The search for warriors’ documentary about the Australian SAS selection.

]]> By: John Kennett http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2009/01/22/the-victoria-cross/comment-page-1/#comment-4948 John Kennett Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:53:30 +0000 http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/?p=2033#comment-4948 Comments 3 and 4 mention the Star of Gallantry and make mention of two awarded so far. In fact there have been three. Major Harry Smith's for Long Tan and the Commando Sergeant who won his in Afghanistan in 2006. But I found mention of another, to, I presume a Commando Private for Afghanistan in 2008. I wonder when Afganistan is all done and dusted the names and awards of these and the other Special Forces soldiers will be known ?? It would also be interesting for someone to compile a list of what awards have been awarded to 4RAR(Cdo) / 2 CDO Regt for Iraq and Afghanistan as they seem to take a back seat to the SAS in the media. (Probably how they prefer ir too.) Comments 3 and 4 mention the Star of Gallantry and make mention of two awarded so far. In fact there have been three. Major Harry Smith’s for Long Tan and the Commando Sergeant who won his in Afghanistan in 2006. But I found mention of another, to, I presume a Commando Private for Afghanistan in 2008.

I wonder when Afganistan is all done and dusted the names and awards of these and the other Special Forces soldiers will be known ?? It would also be interesting for someone to compile a list of what awards have been awarded to 4RAR(Cdo) / 2 CDO Regt for Iraq and Afghanistan as they seem to take a back seat to the SAS in the media. (Probably how they prefer ir too.)

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