Medal for BAOR

Here is the British Forces Germany version :

This is how you show your medals
Sergeant Major of the Army, US style :

Should only be worn with other commemorative baubles..

Talking about medals etc., how's this chap doing. Ex-WO2 Keith Payne, Late Australian Infantry.





This is my Hero

Jimsigs

you definately needed a medal for eating acc slops in the emporium aka the cookhouse , plus arf a ton of rennies ,

Warrant Officer Class 2 Keith Payne, VC
Keith Payne.

Date of birth: 30 August 1933
Place of birth: Ingham, QLD
Keith Payne was born at Ingham, Queensland, on 30 August 1933. He attended Ingham State School and later became an apprentice cabinet-maker. Unsatisfied with working as a tradesman, Payne joined the army in August 1951 and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in September the following year.

Payne served with his unit in Korea between April 1952 and March 1953. He married Florence Plaw, a member of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps, in December 1954, was promoted to corporal the following year and returned to operational duties when he joined the 3rd Battalion in February 1960. Payne served in Malaya with this unit and in 1965, now a sergeant, he joined the 5th Battalion. In June 1965, by now a Company Sergeant-Major, Payne was posted as an instructor to the Officer Training Unit at Scheyville, NSW. In February 1967 he joined the 2nd Pacific Islands Regiment in Papua New Guinea and remained there until March 1968 when he returned to Brisbane. On 24 February 1969 he was appointed to the Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam.

In May that year he was commanding the 212th Company of the 1st Mobile Strike Force Battalion when it was attacked by a strong North Vietnamese force. His company was isolated and, surrounded on three sides, Payne's Vietnamese troops began to fall back. Payne, by now wounded in the hands and arms and under heavy fire, covered the withdrawal before organising his troops into a defensive perimeter. He then spent three hours scouring the scene of the day's fight for isolated and wounded soldiers, all the while evading the enemy who kept up regular fire. He found some forty wounded men, brought some in himself and organised the rescue of the others, leading the party back to base through enemy dominated terrain. Years later, asked whether he was afraid, Payne replied, "My God yes, yes, I was."

Payne's actions that night earned him the Victoria Cross. He was evacuated to Brisbane in September suffering from an illness, receiving a warm reception at the airport before entering hospital. In January 1970 Payne was posted to the Royal Military College Duntroon as an instructor.

Payne received his VC from the Queen aboard the Royal Yacht, Britannia, in Brisbane. He was made a Freeman of the city and of the shire in which his hometown was located. A park in Stafford, Brisbane, where Payne lived was also named after him. He received the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star from the United States and the Republic of Vietnam awarded Payne the Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star. He retired from the army in 1975, but saw further action as a captain with the Army of the Sultan of Oman in the Dhofar War.

Payne returned to Australia and became active in the veteran community, particularly in counselling sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder. Payne and his wife raised five sons and are now living at Mackay in Queensland.

Well done Len for the info on Keith Payne. I have the write up as well. What a bloke. Of course Canada, New Zealand & Australia now have their own VC but with very, very slight differences. For instance.
Victoria Cross Canada was introduced in 1991. The  description has changed from  'For Valour' to 'Pro Valore'.

The Victoria Cross for New Zealand was established in 1999. One award has been made in 2007 for an action in 2004.

The Victoria Cross for Australia was created in 1991. Three VCs have been awarded, one in 2009, one in 2011 and the third in 2012.

Here`s another for you Jim,Only £69.95

Gordon,

Ah, the Veteran's Star. Don't think I can afford that one. In any case, I don't consider my self a veteran yet. Anyway, the lapel badge they sent me a while back will suffice.

jimsigs

Gordon. wrote:

Here`s another for you Jim,Only £69.95

Might get one of those to go with my new LS & GC and Artic Convoy medals!   

Hi Sheldrake,

Got my LS & GC in 1968 when the qualifying time was 18 years. Remember going on parade at Catterick and receiving the medal from the Mayor of Richmond. (big deal)
As regard to the Artic Convoy Medal, don't think I would qualify for that one but am waiting for the announcement of the Catterick Star. Now that will be worth waiting for. (!!!!), s'quse me I just coughed.

Shelldrake,

Here's a nice medal for you. Only £14.50.

I've got that one Jim, I wear it one my right breast next to my Fathers VC, Croix de Guerre and Congressional Medal of Honour!

Pretty rare Shelldrake to see BOTH the Victoria Cross and the Medal of Honor worn at the same time.
Would like a photo of that.
Jimsigs1

PS remember seeing a photo once of a mother who received both the VC & GC posthumously for her two deceased sons.

Hi Shelldrake,

I think you were thinking along these lines :-

This caught my eye on the Royal Signals Association Last Post section ... got to be the longest engagement ever \..

Len (Ciphers)

Capt JDF Francis MBE, John, Jan 2014 1848-75 Loughborough & Birgelen Vets Assn

Got the info on Capt JDL Francis, MBE.
Born 19/03/1931. Commissioned 20/11/1967 as Traffic Officer R Sigs. Retired 31/08/1975. All derived from my copy of The Army List part II 2005, Officers in receipt of a pension.
God knows where R Sigs Association got the year 1848

Obviously a missprint

You reckon Gordon ...

Len (Ciphers)

jimsigs1 wrote:

Got the info on Capt JDL Francis, MBE.
Born 19/03/1931. Commissioned 20/11/1967 as Traffic Officer R Sigs. Retired 31/08/1975. All derived from my copy of The Army List part II 2005, Officers in receipt of a pension.
God knows where R Sigs Association got the year 1848

Doesn't surprise me, really!!    

Delete 1848...insert 1948 joining at 17...through the ranks and commissioned at 36...retired at 44...

Well done Steve. Bit young to jack it in at 44. Some of my mates commissioned from the ranks went well into their 50's before retiring. I'm thinking of Brian Cleaver, Fred Orr, Tom Stoddart and the late Roy Lidstone. All half colonels.

jimsigs

Hi Jim
Most of the Denbury Boys who were commissioned went on to 55 including several Lt Cols...but know of some who were made redundant or resigned early...know of one who went to Sandhurst as a SSgt he went on to 60 as Major but able to stay on in the same job as a RO...a good friend retires from full time TA next month he joined Sep 60...so 53.5 years unbroken service for the queen...could be a record!
All the best
Steve

Steve wrote :
know of one who went to Sandhurst as a SSgt he went on to 60 as Major

Hi Steve,
That's good going for a SSgt to go to Sandhurst. Probably got a late entry commission.
There was chap from AAS Harrogate from an intake around 1963, was fast tracked to Sandhurst and retired as a Major-General. - his name : John Stokoe

jimsigs

He did the full "rupert" course and got a regular commission and gained the "sword of honour" so not an LE as sure that's why he could go on to 60...were LEs go at 55...he must have done something special as was over the age limit of 28 for entering Sandhurst...