Peter John Badcoe

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Peter John Badcoe VC (January 11, 1934 - April 7, 1967) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

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[edit] Early life

Badcoe was born on 11 January 1934 in Adelaide, South Australia and attended Adelaide Technical High School. He has a surviving wife Denise and three daughters; Carey, Kim and Susanne. He also has a sister, Thelma. His grandchildren include Connor, Nicky, Peter, Josie, Michael, Lucy and D'Arcy.

He always wanted to join the Army, though his father was against it, worried they would lose him. They agreed that if he did a year working and then still wanted to go to the Army, his father would support it. His real passion was the infantry.

He also played hockey for South Australia while at school and played a fife in the school band. His first car was a little red MG.

[edit] Military Service

Peter graduated from the Officer Cadet School Portsea in 1952. He was 33 years old, and a major in the Australian Army Training Team, Australian Forces during the Vietnam War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 23 February 1967 in Huong Tra, Vietnam, Major Badcoe rescued, under heavy fire, a United States Medical Adviser. On 7 March he led his company in an attack and turned what seemed to be certain defeat into a victory. Again, on 7 April he attempted to lead his company against more powerful opposition. This final act of bravery resulted in his death. The main hall at OCS Portsea was named in his honour.

[edit] Victoria Cross Citation

The London Gazette Tuesday, 17 October 1967 page 11273

Major Peter John Badcoe (41400) Royal Australian Infantry Corps

41400 Major Peter John Badcoe was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Australian Staff Corps in December 1952. He was allotted to the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery in which he served in a number of Regimental and Staff postings until August 1965. He then transferred to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps and joined the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam in August 1966. He was posted as Sector Operations Officer in Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam.

On 23 February 1967 he was acting as an Advisor to a Regional Force Company in support of a Sector operation in Phu Thu District. He monitored a radio transmission which stated that the Subsector Adviser, a United States Army Officer, had been killed and that his body was within 50 metres of an enemy machine gun position; further, the United States Medical Adviser had been wounded and was in immediate danger from the enemy. Major Badcoe, with complete disregard for his own safety, moved alone across 600 metres of fire-swept ground and reached the wounded Adviser, attended to him and ensured his future safety. He then organised a force of one platoon and led them towards the enemy post. His personal leadership, words of encouragement, and actions in the face of hostile enemy fire forced the platoon to successfully assault the enemy position and capture it, where he personally killed the machine gunners directly in front of him. He then picked up the body of the dead officer and ran back to the Command post over open ground still covered by enemy fire.

On 7 March 1967, at approximately 0645 hours, the Sector Reaction Company was deployed to Quang Dien Subsector to counter an attack by the Viet Cong on the Headquarters. Major Badcoe left the Command group after their vehicle broke down and a United States Officer was killed; he joined the Company Headquarters and personally led the company in an attack over open terrain to assault and capture a heavily defended enemy position. In the face of certain death and heavy losses his personal courage and leadership turned certain defeat into victory and prevented the enemy from capturing the District Headquarters.

On 7 April 1967, on an operation in Huong Tra District, Major Badcoe was with the 1st ARVN Division Reaction Company and some armoured personnel carriers. During the move forward to an objective the company came under heavy small arms fire and withdrew to a cemetery for cove. This left Major Badcoe and his radio operator about 50 metres in front of the leading elements, under heavy mortar fire. Seeing this withdrawal, Major Badcoe ran back to them, moved amongst them and by encouragement and example got them moving forward again. He then set out in front of the company to lead them on; the company stopped again under heavy fire but Major Badcoe continued on to cover and prepared to throw grenades. When he rose to throw, his radio operator pulled him down as heavy small arms fire was being brought to bear on them. He later got up again to throw a grenade and was hit and killed by a burst of machine gun fire. Soon after, friendly artillery fire was called in and the position was assaulted and captured.

Major Badcoe's conspicuous gallantry and leadership on all these occasions was an inspiration to all. Each action, ultimately, was successful, due entirely to his efforts, the final one ending in his death. His valour and leadership were in the highest traditions of the military profession and the Australian Regular Army.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.

[edit] Sale of Medal and Memorabilia

The Badcoe VC medal group and personal memoirs estimated at AU$400,000-600,000 was offered for sale by auction in Sydney on 20th May 2008. [1] They eventually sold for AU$488,000 to an anonymous buyer, who stated the medals will remain in Australia. The buyer was later revealed to be Kerry Stokes, and the South Australian State Government.

[edit] Honours and Awards

For his services in Vietnam, in addition to the Victoria Cross, Peter Badcoe was also decorated from the United States of America with their Silver Star with oakleaf cluster, the Purple Heart and an Air Medal. The South Vietnamese awarded him the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Gold Star and Silver Star, and the Wound Medal.

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