Victoria Cross Citations

The Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross
Photo: Australian War Memorial

Victoria Cross Rest Areas and Memorial Parks dedicated to Australian Victoria Cross winners from WWII and the Vietnam War have been established along the Remembrance Driveway.

Because of their acts of valour and extraordinary personal courage they have been selected by name to represent all the servicemen and women commemorated.

The Victoria Cross is the pre-eminent award for acts of bravery in wartime and 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 Victoria Cross for Australia was introduced as part of the Australian honours system in 1991. It replaced the Imperial Victoria Cross. Trooper Mark Donaldson VC was the first recipient of this award. The Imperial Victoria Cross was created by The Queen in 1856 and made retrospective to 1854 to cover the period of the Crimea War. Until the Victoria Cross for Australia was created in 1991, Australians were eligible for the Victoria Cross and other awards under the Imperial system of honours. As yet no Victoria Cross for Australia has been awarded. The Imperial Victoria Cross has been awarded to 96 Australians. Ninety received the Victoria Cross while serving with Australian units and six received the award while serving with other units.

Select the names at the left to read about each veteran.