Posted on 11/10/2009 10:03:25 PM PST by naturalman1975
AUSTRALIA'S first Victoria Cross winner in almost 40 years has had a private meeting with The Queen.
As Australian soldier Mark Donaldson walked calmly out the gates of Windsor Castle yesterday, he looked like any one of a number of the uniformed troops on duty protecting the Queen's official residence.
But an observant British local among a small throng outside the gates noticed the distinctive Victoria Cross among other medals pinned to his chest and exclaimed loudly in a Cockney accent, "'e's got-a full deck 'e 'as", and warm applause instantly broke out for the unassuming 30-year-old Digger known to his mates as "Donno".
It was a small gesture on what was otherwise a miserable rainy day, but summed up the extraordinary morning the SAS soldier had just had inside the imposing walls of Windsor Castle, and the more extraordinary act of heroism that had brought him to that point.
Trooper Donaldson, from Waratah, Newcastle in NSW, enjoyed a mid-morning private audience with The Queen in recognition of his VC - the highest award for gallantry - he was awarded earlier this year by the Governor-General.
Under rocket and machine gun fire last year on the frontline in Afghanistan, he deliberately put himself in the line of enemy fire to save his wounded comrades, before running 80m across open ground to rescue a wounded Afghan interpreter.
But Trooper Donaldson said meeting The Queen was probably the most outstanding and extraordinary experience "a country boy" could ever have.
"To come here to a castle and meet The Queen, it was quite outstanding and definitely an honour," he said yesterday.
(Excerpt) Read more at heraldsun.com.au ...
That’s their version of our CMH, correct?
BTTT
Yes - both the Medal of Honor and the Victoria Cross are awarded only for the most pre-eminent bravery in the face of the enemy.
Four Victoria Crosses have been awarded in the current war - two to Britons (posthumously to Corporal Bryan Budd VC, Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC survived with serious injuries), one to a New Zealander (Corporal William Apiata VC) and one to an Australian (Trooper Mark Donaldson VC).
God bless Trooper Mark Donaldson. We can never show enough appreciation for men such as him.
Who dares,wins.
Australia has plenty to be proud of in her sons.
The largest number of VCs awarded in a single action was 11 at Rorke’s Drift on 22 January 1879 during the Zulu War ...
BTW - “Zulu” was an EXCELLENT movie ...
“BTW - “Zulu” was an EXCELLENT movie ...”
Zulu was an awesome movie made even more awesome by the fact that Michael Caine has switched parties to Tory. ;)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.