TV mogul gives V(ictoria) C(ross) to nation

The Daily Telegraph ^ | 22nd May 2008 | Justin Vallejo

[naturalman1975]

SEVEN Network boss Kerry Stokes will return a Victoria Cross awarded to one of the country's greatest war heroes to the Australian War Memorial.

The media mogul and the South Australian Government were yesterday revealed as the mystery bidders of the medal, which sold at auction in Sydney for $488,000.

It is the third Victoria Cross Mr Stokes has bought at auction and returned to the War Memorial since 2006, spending almost $2 million to save the pieces of Australia's history from being lost to the public.

Carey Badcoe, daughter of Adelaide-born digger Major Peter Badcoe, was happy her father's medals would stay on display for all to see.

[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.

In addition to the Victoria Cross, Badcoe's medals (sold as part of this auction) comprised:

Active Service medal 1945-1975 (Australia)
Vietnam medal (Australia)
Australian Defence medal
Silver Star with Oak Leaf (United States)
Silver Star (United States)
Purple Heart (United States)
Air Medal (United States)
Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star (South Vietnam)
Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star (South Vietnam)
Wound medal (South Vietnam)
Vietnam Campaign medal with 1960 bar (South Vietnam)

[neb52]

Who put them up for sell and why? If not the family how did they lose control of the medals?

[gridlock]

I think it was the family that auctioned them off.

[naturalman1975]

They were put up for auction by the Badcoe family.

Most VCs are now eventually auctioned off - most families find they cannot afford the security needed to keep such a valuable artifact safe - there appears to be a significant market for stolen Victoria Crosses out there.

Export restrictions under Australian law would normally prevent a VC from being allowed to go overseas when sold. However something about the way this particular Victoria Cross was awarded meant that it didn't have that normal protection and there was a foreign collector interested, so there was concern that the Badcoe VC would be lost to Australia. Kerry Stokes has prevented that from happening.