Australian awarded VC for actions in Afghanistan

Antipodean Andy · Jan 15, 2009

Very proud.

Trooper Mark Donaldson receives Victoria Cross for bravery in Afghanistan | Herald Sun

THE first Victoria Cross for Australia has been awarded to a Trooper Mark Donaldson for his bravery in Afhanistan this morning.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Governor-General Quentin Bryce made the historic announcement today at Government House in Canberra.

The Victoria Cross is the highest possible award for acts of bravery in wartime, ahead of the Military Cross. Queen Victoria instituted the award in 1856 and made it retrospective to cover the Crimean War.

In 1975 it became the Victoria Cross for Australia after the imperial awards system changed.

Some 97 Australians have received the Victoria Cross for acts of bravery in the Boer War, the two World Wars, Russia and Vietnam.

The Victoria Cross is in the form of the Maltese Cross: in the centre of the medal is a lion standing upon the Royal Crown. The words "For valour" are inscribed below. The Victoria Cross is suspended from a bar by a red ribbon. On the reverse of the cross the date of the act of bravery is inscribed, along with the name, rank, and unit of the recipient.
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Antipodean Andy · Jan 15, 2009

This make him the first recipient of the Victoria Cross for Australia.

Soldier awarded VC for Afghanistan bravery - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Trooper Mark Donaldson, who served in Afghanistan, has become the first recipient of the Victoria Cross of Australia.

The award was presented to Trooper Donaldson at Government House in Canberra this morning by Governor General Quentin Bryce.

Trooper Donaldson is first recipient of the Victoria Cross for Australia since it was created in 1991.

He was at the ceremony with his wife.

The Victoria Cross for Australia was instituted into the Australia honours system in 1991, and replaced the British or Imperial Victoria Cross as Australia's highest military honour.

It is awarded to persons who, in the presence of the enemy, display the most conspicuous gallantry; a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice; or extreme devotion to duty.

The Imperial Victoria Cross, instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856 and made retrospective in 1854 to cover the period of the Crimean war, has traditionally been the highest award for acts of bravery in wartime.

The Imperial Victoria Cross has been awarded to 95 Australians, with the most recent awarded to Warrant Officer Keith Payne for gallantry during the Vietnam War in 1969.

The first Australian to be awarded a Victoria Cross was Captain Sir Neville Howse during the Boer War.
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Antipodean Andy · Jan 15, 2009

Brief details of the action. I seem to remember having read of the action previously.

First Aussie soldier in 40 years gets VC > National > LIVENEWS.com.au

An Australian soldier, Trooper Mark Donaldson, has been awarded a Victoria Cross for gallantry in Afghanistan - the first to be awarded in more than 40 years.

Trooper Donaldson receives the award for his rescue of a coalition forces interpreter from heavy fire in Oruzgan Province in Afghanistan.

The award for exceptional bravery is the 96th Victoria Cross to be conferred on an Australian soldier.
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Antipodean Andy · Jan 15, 2009

Here's the link as originally posted on here: http://ww2chat.com/forums/other-conflicts-post-1945/4001-incredible-bravery-afghanistan.html and another brave participant in the same action: http://ww2chat.com/forums/barracks/3608-sas-soldier-wounded-lashed-himself-vehicle-fought.html

Trooper Mark Donaldson awarded Victoria Cross for actions in Afghanistan | National News | News.com.au

A SOLDIER who deliberately drew enemy fire and then carried a wounded colleague to safety through a hail of bullets has been awarded the Victoria Cross.

The medal, inscribed with the words "For Valour", was pinned to the chest of Trooper Mark Donaldson this morning in Canberra by the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce.

It is the first time in 40 years the honour has been awarded to an Australian.

Trooper Donaldson VC was recognised for exceptional gallantry in a firefight in Afghanistan last year. He is credited with saving the life of an interpreter.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the courage of his actions “leapt off the page” and would go down as Australian legend.

"Trooper Donaldson, the nation salutes you."

Mr Rudd said Trooper Donaldson "joins the ranks of our bravest and finest".

Details of his the SAS soldier's bravery first emerged last year.

An Australian, US and Afghan convoy was ambushed by a superior and well-prepared Taliban force while returning to base.

The clash resulted in nine Australian soldiers being wounded, the largest casualty toll of any single action since Vietnam. The previous day, the Australian soldiers killed 13 Taliban.

As the convoy withdrew, the Taliban opened fire. Major General McOwan said soldiers reacted without concern for their own safety.

One, identified only as Trooper F at the time, but now known to be Trooper Donaldson, deliberately exposed himself to enemy fire on several occasions to draw attention away from the wounded.

He then saw that a severely wounded Afghan interpreter had fallen from a vehicle and was lying on open ground raked by machine gun fire.

"Without prompting, and without regard to his own safety, Trooper F ran back to recover the wounded Afghan," the major general said.

"He ran across about 80 metres of fire-swept and exposed ground, drawing intense and accurate machine-gun fire from the entrenched enemy positions."

Still under fire, he lifted the wounded man onto his shoulders and carried him back to the convoy's vehicles. He administered first aid and then returned to the fight.
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liverpool annie · Jan 15, 2009

I love this part .... He was at the ceremony with his wife !!

Wonderful story !

Annie

John · Jan 15, 2009

Trooper Mark Donaldson has carried on the tradition of The Australian Army with his very brave action in Afghanistan. He will wear his VC with pride.
I believe this is the 97th VC won by Australians in our history of wars.
:clapping::clapping:

war hawk · Jan 15, 2009

He did a heroic act.

ABMM · Jan 15, 2009

Outstanding! I believe that TPR Donaldson might be the first soldier to be awarded the VC during service with the SASR. I'm just glad that it wasn't posthumous. A big win for the chicken stranglers.

That particular contact is going to be a very interesting story when the full details emerge in a few years.

Adrian Roberts · Jan 16, 2009

Its good that heroism is still recognised as such.

I heard about this on the BBC Radio 4 6pm news, but I regret to say it wasn't on the BBC1 TV News at Ten, or in the on-line newspaper that I read.

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