The Star of Gallantry was established on 15 January 1991 to accord recognition to members of the Defence Force and certain other persons who perform acts of gallantry in action.
The Star of Gallantry shall be awarded only for acts of great heroism or conspicuous gallantry in action in circumstances of great peril. In the order of precedence it ranks after the Victoria Cross of Australia but before the Medal of Gallantry. Subsequent awards to the same person will be made in the form of a Bar.
It may be awarded posthumously. It replaces the British Imperial Distinguished Service Order in Australia's Honours system.
The Star of Gallantry is a silver-gilt Federation Star ensigned with a Crown of Saint Edward in silver-gilt. Each axis measures 37 millimetres.
The obverse bears a super imposed central device of a smaller Federation Star with each axis measuring 22 millimetres. The inner Star is surrounded and partly overlapped by stylised flames representing action under fire.
The reverse bears a central horizontal panel 25 millimetres across and 9 millimetres high superimposed on a stepped background. The Star of Gallantry is suspended from a ribbon 32 millimetres wide and has chevrons of deep orange 3.25 millimetres wide alternating with chevrons of light orange 1:75 millimetres wide angled at 60 degrees.
About damned time.
Excellent news for our brave Digger cousins. Brilliant!
I hope that they exercise a considerable amount of diligence as to who gets this medal. I have met a few “Long Tan” phonies in my time: liars who were never there and who should never be able to steal Valor from those who were.
Folks, do you know any phonies who claim military honors from Australia or New Zealand? Here is your chance to dob them in. Check out http://www.anzmi.net — it is a site dedicated to exposing impostors and Valor thieves.
Ask for “Curtains” and tell them that “Chieftain” from NZ sent you. Then tell them what you know.
*DieHard*
“Too Tall, sir!” /obscure
Wonderful, the Aussies were great to work with. I arrived in country on June 29, 1966 and made my first trip to the Aussie base in September. I drank several times with the Aussies but had no idea that this battle happened. One of my fellow helicopter crews was involved in an ARVN battle near there at about this time. We Americans at the time had our own problems at Chu Chi and didn’t hear about this. (I guess.) Soon after I believe the 9th Infantry landed and helped these Aussies out for awhile.