Replies

Back in the 1960s (and until the 1970s) Australian servicemen received 'Imperial Honours' when they were decorated - the same medals that British service personnel received. The system worked until Vietnam because until then Australians had always been serving alongside British troops in the same wars. But Vietnam was different - Britain was not part of the war, and the British Ministry of Defence (which had to approve Australian recommendations for decorations) was reluctant to pass on too many such recommendations.

Also, in contrast to all previous wars that Australian troops had served in, there was no immediate 'End of War' Honours list for Vietnam - the purpose of the 'End of War' list was to identify and recognise actions that had been overlooked during the conflict. But when Australia exited the Vietnam War, a socialist government had just been elected that wanted to put Vietnam behind them as fast as possible and didn't care if this meant service personnel were not recognised. That oversight was eventually corrected in 1998 when the Howard government did formulate an End of War list for Vietnam 25 years after it should have been done - but even with that, there were still men who went unrecognised.

Now ten more of those men have finally been honoured as they should have been fifty years ago. Because Australia now has its own Honours system, distinct from the Imperial system, the decorations awarded are different but have been issued at the same level as the men were originally recommended for.

The list of men and their awards:

Lieutenant Adrian Roberts - the Medal for Gallantry. This is a tacit acknowledgement that he should have received the Military Cross for which he was recommended.

Sergeant Frank Alcorta - the Medal for Gallantry. This is a tacit acknowledgement that he should have received the Military Medal for which he was recommended.

Lance Corporal Barry Magnussen (now deceased) - the Medal for Gallantry. This is a tacit acknowledgement that he should have received the Military Medal for which he was recommended.

Second Lieutenant Gordon Sharp (now deceased) - Commendation for Gallantry. This is a tacit acknowledgement that he should have been Mentioned In Dispatches.

Private Neil Bextrum - Commendation for Gallantry. This is a tacit acknowledgement that he should have been Mentioned In Dispatches.

Private Ron Brett (now deceased) - Commendation for Gallantry. This is a tacit acknowledgement that he should have been Mentioned In Dispatches.

Private Ian Campbell - Commendation for Gallantry. This is a tacit acknowledgement that he should have been Mentioned In Dispatches.

Private William Roche - Commendation for Gallantry. This is a tacit acknowledgement that he should have been Mentioned In Dispatches.

Private Geoffrey Peters - Commendation for Gallantry. This is a tacit acknowledgement that he should have been Mentioned In Dispatches.

Private Noel Grimes - Commendation for Gallantry. This is a tacit acknowledgement that he should have been Mentioned In Dispatches.