Victoria Cross for Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Victoria Cross for Australia |
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 Obverse of the medal and ribbon. Ribbon: 32 mm, crimson
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| Type | Military decoration |
| Eligibility | Australian military personnel |
| 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." |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Description | Bronze cross pattée with crown and lion superimposed, and motto: 'For Valour' |
| Post-nominals | VC |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 15 January 1991 |
| Order of Wear | |
| Next (higher) | none |
| Equivalent | Victoria Cross |
| Next (lower) | George Cross, Cross of Valour |
The Victoria Cross for Australia is the highest award in Australia. It is given to Australian military members for amazing bravery. This medal is for "the most noticeable bravery, or some daring act of courage or self-sacrifice, or extreme dedication to duty when facing the enemy."
Elizabeth II, the Queen of Australia, officially created the Victoria Cross for Australia on 15 January 1991. It is considered just as important as the original British Victoria Cross. This means it is the top award in the Australian Order of Wear. Members of the Australian Defence Force can receive this award. Other people can also be chosen by the Australian Minister for Defence. If someone receives the Victoria Cross for Australia, they can use the letters VC after their name.
The Governor-General of Australia presents the Victoria Cross for Australia. This happens with the Queen's approval, based on the Minister for Defence's suggestion. As of February 2021, five Victoria Crosses for Australia have been given out. Two of these were given after the person had died. The first award was on 16 January 2009 to Trooper Mark Donaldson. He bravely rescued an interpreter during a battle in Afghanistan.
Contents
What is the Victoria Cross for Australia?
How did the Victoria Cross begin?
The original Victoria Cross was created on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria. It was meant to honor brave acts during the Crimean War. The medals were supposed to be made from captured Russian cannons. However, it was later found that the metal actually came from old Chinese guns.
The parts of the cannon used for the medals are kept very safely. Only a special company of jewelers in London, called Hancocks, has made every medal since the beginning. Both the Australian and New Zealand Victoria Crosses are made from the same special metal.
Who received the original Victoria Cross in Australia?
Ninety-six Australians received the original Victoria Cross. Most of these were for actions while serving in Australian forces. Sixty-four awards were for bravery in the First World War. Nine of these were for fighting during the Gallipoli Campaign. Twenty medals were given for actions in the Second World War. Other medals were for the Second Boer War, Russian Civil War, and Vietnam War. The last Australian to get the original Victoria Cross was Warrant Officer Keith Payne in 1969. He was honored for rescuing over 40 men during the Vietnam War.
Why did Australia create its own Victoria Cross?
After the Second World War, many Commonwealth countries started their own awards systems. They wanted their own special medals for bravery. Australia was the first Commonwealth country to create its own Victoria Cross. This happened on 15 January 1991. Even though it's a separate award, the Victoria Cross for Australia looks exactly like the original British one.
Canada also created its own Victoria Cross in 1993. It looks a bit different and has a Latin phrase, PRO VALORE, instead of 'FOR VALOUR'. So far, no Canadian Victoria Crosses have been awarded. New Zealand created its own Victoria Cross in 1999. It looks the same as the Australian and British ones. It has been awarded once to Corporal Willie Apiata in 2007.
What does the Victoria Cross for Australia look like?
The Victoria Cross for Australia looks exactly like the original medal. It is a bronze cross pattée. This means it's a cross with arms that widen at the ends. It is 41 millimeters high and 36 millimeters wide. The cross has raised edges.
On the front of the medal, there is a crowned lion standing on a royal crown. Below the crown, it says 'FOR VALOUR' on a curved scroll. The back of the cross has raised edges. The date of the brave act is engraved in the center circle. The medal, the bar it hangs from, and the link weigh about 27 grams.
The cross hangs from a ring shaped like a "V". This ring connects to a bar decorated with laurel leaves. The ribbon goes through this bar. The back of the bar has the recipient's name, rank, number, and unit engraved on it. The ribbon is crimson, which is a deep red color. It is 38 millimeters wide.
How is the Victoria Cross for Australia awarded?
The Victoria Cross for Australia is given for: "... most noticeable bravery, or some daring or outstanding act of courage or self-sacrifice, or extreme dedication to duty when facing the enemy or people involved in conflict. "
The Governor-General of Australia gives out the awards with the Queen's approval. The rules for the Australian Victoria Cross are a bit different from the old British rules. The new rules do not say exactly how recommendations should be made. However, it is expected that any suggestion will go through the military leaders to the Minister for Defence.
If someone receives a second Victoria Cross for Australia, they get a special bar added to their medal. If they get two or more awards, they can use "VC and Bar" or "VC and Bars" after their name.
The Victoria Cross for Australia is the highest award in the Australian Honours Order of Precedence. This means it is more important than all other Australian awards. It is considered equal to the original British Victoria Cross. This special title (VC) is only for the person who received the medal. It does not pass on to their family.
It is a tradition that even the highest-ranking officer will salute a Victoria Cross recipient. This shows great respect for their brave act. The Australian government also pays a special allowance to anyone who receives the Victoria Cross. This is currently A$3,230 per year.
The Victoria Cross medals are very valuable. In 2006, a VC medal awarded to Captain Alfred John Shout from the First World War was sold for $1 million. Shout received the medal after he died in 1915 for his bravery in battle at Gallipoli. The buyer, Kerry Stokes, has loaned it to the Australian War Memorial. The Australian War Memorial in Canberra has a large collection of Victoria Crosses on display.
Who are the recipients of the Victoria Cross for Australia?
Mark Donaldson
The first Victoria Cross for Australia was given to Trooper Mark Donaldson. He was a member of the Special Air Service Regiment. Governor-General Quentin Bryce presented it to him on 16 January 2009. On 2 September 2008, Donaldson bravely rescued an interpreter. This happened under heavy enemy fire in Oruzgan province during Operation Slipper in Afghanistan.
Here is what happened: "On 2 September 2008 Trooper Donaldson showed outstanding bravery during a long and strong enemy ambush. Many times, he purposely drew enemy fire to let wounded soldiers be moved to safety. As the battle continued, he saw that a coalition interpreter was lying still in an open area. Without thinking of his own safety, on his own, Trooper Donaldson ran back eighty meters across open ground to save the interpreter and carry him back to a vehicle. Trooper Donaldson then rejoined his patrol and kept fighting the enemy while still exposed to heavy enemy fire. "
Ben Roberts-Smith
Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith MG of the Special Air Service Regiment received the second Victoria Cross for Australia. This was on 23 January 2011. Corporal Roberts-Smith was honored for bravely charging and destroying two Taliban machine gun positions by himself. This happened during a battle in Afghanistan on 11 June 2010. He had also received a Medal for Gallantry in 2006.
Daniel Keighran
Corporal Daniel Keighran of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment received the Victoria Cross for Australia on 1 November 2012. This was for his actions in the Battle of Derapet in Afghanistan in August 2010. Corporal Keighran purposely put himself in harm's way. He drew enemy fire away from an injured friend and those helping him. He was the third person to receive this award. He was also the first recipient who was not from the Special Forces.
Cameron Baird
On 13 February 2014, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that Corporal Cameron Baird would receive a Victoria Cross after he had died. Corporal Baird was a member of the 2nd Commando Regiment. He had received the Medal for Gallantry in 2007. He was sadly killed in Afghanistan in 2013.
Edward "Teddy" Sheean
On 12 August 2020, the Queen approved that Edward "Teddy" Sheean would receive the Victoria Cross for Australia. Sheean's case was looked at three times. In June 2020, Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison asked a group of experts to review the decision. On 10 August 2020, Morrison agreed with their findings. He then suggested to the Queen that Sheean be given the Victoria Cross after his death.
Proposed Awards for Past Heroes
Sometimes, there are discussions about giving the Victoria Cross for Australia to people for brave acts that happened a long time ago. For example, in 2001, there was a suggestion to award the Victoria Cross for Australia to three people who showed great bravery in the First and Second World Wars. These were John Simpson Kirkpatrick ("Simpson"), Albert Cleary, and Teddy Sheean. (Teddy Sheean later received the award in 2020).
Simpson's story is very famous in Australia. He was a stretcher bearer at Gallipoli during the First World War. He used a donkey to carry wounded soldiers from the battle line to the beach. He did this for many weeks, often under fire, until he was killed. However, in 1919, King George V decided that no more awards would be given for that war.
In 1965, people campaigned for Simpson to receive the Victoria Cross. His image with a donkey even appeared on a special medal. Historians have discussed whether the Victoria Cross for Australia should be given for past events. In 2011, the Australian government looked into 13 cases of bravery from the past. However, in 2013, they decided not to make any new awards for those cases.
See also
In Spanish: Cruz Victoria para Australia para niños
