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Post by anthony on Feb 13, 2014 4:29:17 GMT
Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird was deployed to Afghanistan in February 2013 and was killed in action by small arms fire in an engagement with insurgents in the Khod Valley, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan on 22 June 2013. For his actions in the Khod Valley, Corporal Baird has been posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia. Corporal Baird is only the fourth recipient of the Victoria Cross for Australia and the first to be awarded posthumously. During a previous tour of Afghanistan Baird was awarded the Medal for Gallantry, the third highest Australian gallantry award. fbcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/1016556_10152640456957846_1854799283_a.jpg
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Post by anthony on Feb 18, 2014 11:36:00 GMT
In the US tradition of revealing Medal of Honor citations on the day of the presentation, unlike the British Victoria Cross tradition of first publishing the citation in the London Gazette with the presentation some time later, all four VCFA awards have been gazetted in the Commonwealth Gazette on the day of the presentation.
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette
Government Notices Gazette C2014G00294 18/02/2014
It is notified for general information that Her Majesty The Queen has approved the award of the Victoria Cross for Australia to:
Corporal Cameron Stewart BAIRD MG (deceased)
For the most conspicuous acts of valour, extreme devotion to duty and ultimate self-sacrifice at Ghawchak village, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan as a Commando Team Commander in Special Operations Task Group on Operation SLIPPER.
VICTORIA CROSS FOR AUSTRALIA (VC)
Australian Army
Corporal Cameron Stewart BAIRD MG (deceased)
For the most conspicuous acts of valour, extreme devotion to duty and ultimate selfsacrifice at Ghawchak village, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan as a Commando Team Commander in Special Operations Task Group on Operation SLIPPER.
On 22 June 2013, Corporal Baird displayed conspicuous valour and ultimate self-sacrifice in close combat with a determined enemy. With complete disregard for his own safety, he repeatedly drew enemy fire to himself in order to allow his team to manoeuvre, and charged prepared enemy positions in the face of heavy fire. His efforts enabled the enemy to be neutralised and kept his team safe, but ultimately cost him his life. His actions were of the highest order and in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.
Note that the official Australian post nominal for the VCFA is VC. Since the Second World War there have been four British VCs to Australians for Vietnam and now four VCFAs for Afghanistan. Only one has been to the Royal Australian Regiment with the seven other awards including the latest award to Australian Special Forces.
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Post by Les on Feb 19, 2014 17:00:08 GMT
Thanks for the info Anthony. This is the first I've heard. I'll dig around for more info and and place a page on the main site to him.
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Post by Les on Feb 22, 2014 19:11:22 GMT
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