Bidding war could hijack widow's V(ictoria) C(ross) offshore

The Weekend Australian ^ | 17th May 2088 | Corrie Perkin

[naturalman1975]

FOUR weeks ago, auction house chairman Tim Goodman received a call from a wealthy client in the US.

The businessman, a passionate military memorabilia collector, had learned that medals and frontline archival material belonging to Australian army Major Peter Badcoe, who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1967, would feature in Bonhams and Goodman's May auction, to be held in Sydney on Tuesday.

The collector told Mr Goodman he intended to bid for the Badcoe collection, which includes the only Vietnam War VC medal still in private hands and awarded to Major Badcoe posthumously. The estimated price for the collection, which also features the US Silver Star with Oak Leaf and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Gold Star and Silver Star as well as 37 letters, photographs and audio recordings the major sent to his family, is about $400,000-$600,000.

Despite the US collector's interest, Mr Goodman was confident that under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Regulations 1987, the VC was export-restricted. But the auctioneer later discovered the medal was not a Class-A object, as thought, but a Class-B object, which may leave the country once an export permit is granted.

The different classification occurs because the medal was awarded to Major Badcoe's widow, Denise, several months after he was killed by enemy fire in Huong Tra.

Section 7.4 and 7.5 of the act makes allowances for next-of-kin who might want to take such a possession with them if they move to another country. Despite this, the medal is not protected from international collectors should the family decide to sell.

[naturalman1975]

Citation for the Victoria Cross

On 23 February, in Phu Thu District, Major Badcoe with complete disregard for his own safety moved alone across 600 metres of fire swept ground and reached a United States Medical Adviser wounded by enemy fire, 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.

On 7th March 1967, in Quang Dien District, Major Badcoe led a 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 District Headquarters.

On 7th April 1967, in Huong Tra District, Major Badcoe was with a South Vietnamese company which came under heavy small arms fire and withdrew to a cemetery for cover. 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 and when getting up to throw a grenade he was hit and killed by a burst of machine gun fire.

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 best traditions of the military profession and the Australian Regular Army.

[dcwusmc]

Impressive. The VC was well and truly EARNED! Rest in peace, cobber.

[SES1066]

...Lest we forget Dear Lord, lest we forget!

These people are our secular treasure, in the same sense that the Martyrs and Saints are our sacred treasures. They are ordinary folk, no apparent difference from you or I, yet when the time came, they transcended their ordinariness and became the best of us. I have never been so tested and hope that I never will, but please Dear God, if it comes to me, let me be like these heros before me!