Post by Les on Jun 21, 2007 9:10:08 GMT
It has been revealed that Warrant Officer II Keith Payne has sold his Victoria Cross and campaign medals to the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum in Queensland for an undisclosed sum to provide for his family - Flo, his wife, five sons, fourteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The reason for selling his VC to the Maryborough Museum was because Keith Payne was determined his Victoria Cross would stay in Queensland. "It was a hard call to make but I felt the time was right" and "I wanted my family to benefit from the VC while I still could" he said.
It was an approach from retired businessman John Meyers, owner and curator of the Maryborough Museum, which convinced Keith Payne to sell his Victoria Cross. A former long-time member of the Army Reserve, John Meyers started the museum, which is a labour of love, after selling his shares in a sawmill and hardware business.
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Not satisfied with working as a tradesman, Keith Payne joined the army in August 1951 and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, which he served with in Korea between April 1952 and March 1953. In 1955 Payne was promoted to corporal and returned to operational duties in February 1960 when he joined the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. He servied with this battalion in Malaya and in 1965, now a sergeant, joined the 5th Battalion, RAR. February 1967 saw Payne posted to Papua New Guinea where he served with the 2nd Pacific Islands Regiment, returning to Brisbane in March 1968.
On 24th February 1969 Keith Payne's final posting, where he was to earn his Victoria Cross, was to the Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam.
His entitlement is (see pic below):
Victoria Cross
Australian Active Service Medal ( 1945-75 )
4 clasps: "Korea" - Malaysia" - "Vietnam" - "Thai-Malay"
Korea Medal ( 1950-53 )
United Nations Korea Medal ( 1950-53 )
General Service Medal ( 1962- )
1 clasp: "Malay Peninsula"
Vietnam Medal ( 1965-68 )
Australian Service Medal ( 1945-75 )
3 clasps: "Korea" - "SE Asia" - "PNG"
Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Medal ( 1977 )
Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal ( 2002 )
Defence Force Service Medal ( Australia )
Meritorious Service Medal ( MSM )
'Commonwealth of Australia' Issue
Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal ( LSGC )
'Australia' suspension: Medal of the Order of Australia ( OAM )
Distinguished Service Cross ( DSC ) ( US issue )
Silver Star ( USA )
Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star ( Rep of Vietnam )
South Vietnam Campaign Medal ( Rep of Vietnam )
1 clasp: '1960'
General Service Medal ( Oman )
As Sumood Medal ( Oman )
courtesy of www.victoriacross.org.uk
It was an approach from retired businessman John Meyers, owner and curator of the Maryborough Museum, which convinced Keith Payne to sell his Victoria Cross. A former long-time member of the Army Reserve, John Meyers started the museum, which is a labour of love, after selling his shares in a sawmill and hardware business.
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Not satisfied with working as a tradesman, Keith Payne joined the army in August 1951 and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, which he served with in Korea between April 1952 and March 1953. In 1955 Payne was promoted to corporal and returned to operational duties in February 1960 when he joined the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. He servied with this battalion in Malaya and in 1965, now a sergeant, joined the 5th Battalion, RAR. February 1967 saw Payne posted to Papua New Guinea where he served with the 2nd Pacific Islands Regiment, returning to Brisbane in March 1968.
On 24th February 1969 Keith Payne's final posting, where he was to earn his Victoria Cross, was to the Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam.
His entitlement is (see pic below):
Victoria Cross
Australian Active Service Medal ( 1945-75 )
4 clasps: "Korea" - Malaysia" - "Vietnam" - "Thai-Malay"
Korea Medal ( 1950-53 )
United Nations Korea Medal ( 1950-53 )
General Service Medal ( 1962- )
1 clasp: "Malay Peninsula"
Vietnam Medal ( 1965-68 )
Australian Service Medal ( 1945-75 )
3 clasps: "Korea" - "SE Asia" - "PNG"
Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Medal ( 1977 )
Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal ( 2002 )
Defence Force Service Medal ( Australia )
Meritorious Service Medal ( MSM )
'Commonwealth of Australia' Issue
Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal ( LSGC )
'Australia' suspension: Medal of the Order of Australia ( OAM )
Distinguished Service Cross ( DSC ) ( US issue )
Silver Star ( USA )
Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star ( Rep of Vietnam )
South Vietnam Campaign Medal ( Rep of Vietnam )
1 clasp: '1960'
General Service Medal ( Oman )
As Sumood Medal ( Oman )
courtesy of www.victoriacross.org.uk