Victoria Cross medal group goes on display at Australian War Memorial

The medals of one of the most decorated Australian soldiers of the Vietnam War, Major Peter John Badcoe VC, went on display today at the Australian War Memorial.

The medal group, which includes the Victoria Cross, service medals, United States Silver Star, and South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry belonging to Major Badcoe, arrived at the Memorial this morning. 

Director of the Memorial Dr Brendan Nelson said Major Badcoe was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his repeated acts of conspicuous bravery and leadership in South Vietnam while serving with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) in 1967.

“Between 23 February and 7 April 1967 Major Badcoe repeatedly performed extraordinary feats. He attacked across open ground while under fire; rescued an American adviser; captured a machine-gun; led numerous attacks; and provided leadership and example to wavering troops,” said Dr Nelson.

“His is a story of leadership and courage – one to inspire every one of us – and it is an honour and a privilege to now display his medals in partnership with History SA and the South Australian government.” 

Major Badcoe was killed on 7 April 1967 by a burst of enemy fire while leading South Vietnamese troops during an assault on fortified Viet Cong positions near the hamlet of An Thuan in South Vietnam’s Thua Thien Province.

The Major was buried at Terendak Military Cemetery in Malacca, Malaysia, and was survived by his widow and three daughters.

Peter Badcoe grew up in Adelaide. Having always wanted to join the army, he entered the Officer Cadet School at Portsea, Victoria, in 1952 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Australian Staff Corps.

Originally assigned to the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery in a number of regimental and staff postings, he transferred to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps in August 1965 and joined AATTV a year later. He was then posted as Sector Operations Officer to Thua Thien Province in South Vietnam.

The arrival of Major Badcoe’s medals means that the Memorial now houses all four Victoria Cross medal groups from the Vietnam War.