At night during the trip the students and adults shared their research on an Australian soldier who died in the Vietnam War. The stories told were well researched and very moving. We all learnt about the soldiers journey to war and the tragedy of their passing. Thank you to the students and adults on the trip who made this part of the tour so poignant and meaningful to our purpose of travelling to Vietnam.
In previous blog postings we have read the stories of Lindsay Brown (Kelly), Barry Donald (Andrew), the dogs of Vietnam (Elspeth) and Bruno Adamczyk (Malcolm). This is another story to be told, that of Major Peter Badcoe as told by Ella Frampton on the trip. Ella presented the story of Peter Badcoe on the bus as we travelled between Nui Dat and Vung Tau on 3 October. Ironically, Ella finished her story telling as we pulled up at Back Beach in Vung Tau. Unbeknown to Ella and certainly not planned, this was the site of the Peter Badcoe Club (named after Major Peter Badcoe who was posthumously awarded the Victoria
Cross (VC) for several courageous actions in Vietnam. The club had
various recreational facilities including a swimming pool - Harold Holt Memorial Pool and beach). It was just one of those moments!
The Peter Badcoe Club, Back Beach Vung Tau.
I will post more stories as students forward their digital copy to me post-trip.
Major Peter John Badcoe
The
Vietnam War. A tragic conflict that took the lives of so many young Australians
who were required to go and fight. Approximately 60 thousand Australians were
sent into the midst of the conflict, 3 thousand were injured and 500
Australian’s tragically lost
their lives. 4 of the 60 thousand Australian’s,
that were served our country received the Victoria Cross. One of these recipients was
Peter Badcoe, a Major serving in the Australian Regular Army.
Peter was born in Malvern, Adelaide, on the 11th
January 1934 with the name of Peter John Badcock to his father, Leslie Allen
Badcock and mother, Gladys Mary Ann May. Peter was the only child to the pair
and there is very little information available about his childhood and
education. This is proof that the stories and lives of the soldiers really are
being forgotten.
Of what is known, Peter was educated at Adelaide
Technical High School before gaining an intermediate certificate and leaving at
the young age of 15. He worked as a clerk in the public service but always
yearned for a life in the military. This dream was against his Father’s wishes.
After years of pestering his father for permission, Peter then enlisted in the
Australian Regular Army at age 18. Two years later, on the 13th of
December 1952, Peter graduated from Officer Cadet School in Victoria and was commissioned
as a Second Lieutenant. Badcoe was then
posted to several different locations over a number of years. These include the
14th National Service Training Battalion in 1953 and
between 1955-1957 and 1st Field Regiment twice between 1953-1955 and 1957-1958.
In 1956 at age 22, Peter married 17-year-old
Denise Maureen McMahon. Between 1956 and 1961 Denise and Peter had three
daughters and Peter grew to become not only a devoted soldier but also, a
devoted father. Many letters home expressed his love for his daughters and wife
which were often addressed to as “My Darling Girls”.
Promoted to
temporary captain in December 1958, he worked as a general staff officer at
Army Headquarters in Canberra. In July 1961, he changed his surname to Badcoe.
After returning to regimental duties, he served in Malaya from late 1961 to
1963 as battery captain with 103 Field Battery, accompanied by his family
during one of the happiest periods of their lives together
In August 1965, Badcoe transferred
from artillery to infantry. In June of 1966 he was promoted to a provincial
major and only a month later on the 6th of August he was deployed to
Saigon, now known as Ho Chi Minh City. It was during this deployment that
Badcoe gained the nickname of the ‘Galloping Major’, due to his energy.
His colleagues described Badcoe as a
friendly solder with a dry sense of humor much like many other soldiers of this
period. After seeing, hearing and feeling some of the things that these vets
did, there is no surprise that a lot of them come with this type of humor. He was a very private man who’s main support
came from his wife, his sole confidante. He was never seen to drink, nor smoke
much, unlike other soldiers and was often bored with the activities found in
the mess, rather opting to entertain himself by reading a book on small arms or
military history. If one was to witness
Badcoe in action they would not be able to tell it was the same man who
accompanied himself with a book in his free time. With a lack of better terms,
Badcoe seemed invincible, at his forefront of his troops and conspicuous in his
red paratrooper beret.
Badcoe, unlike any
other soldier, acquired an understanding of the Vietnamese people, and an
affectionate regard for the soldiers he commanded. In order to obtain equipment
for his poorly provisioned troops, he often traded spirits and souvenirs from
the Australian canteen with American Marines. He also acquired food and
supplies which were donated to local orphanages.
As well as
countless other acts of heroism, there are three events in early 1967 in which
Major Peter John Badcoe exemplified what it means to be courageous and
selfless. These are the events that won Badcoe his Victoria Cross, along with
countless other awards and medals.
The first of
these actions occurred on February the 23rd during a small operation
in Phu Thu district, in which Badcoe ran across 600 meters of (Open fire? Or
actual fire? fire, swept open ground with minimal cover to assist a territorial
platoon. After taking complete control of the unit in the area, Badcoe lead a
frontal attack, single-handedly charged an enemy machine-gun post and shot its
crew. He also managed to retrieve a body of an American advisor killed in
action along before delving deeper into enemy fire to rescue another who was
wounded.
The second immensely
gallant event occurred on the 7th of March of the same year, the
district headquarters near Hue were attacked by a strong Viet Cong Unit. As
Badcoe was in command when he organized and led a series of assaults which
drove out the Viet Cong forces, saving the headquarters.
Exactly a month
later on April 7th, Peter Badcoe was writing to his wife. This
letter held the details containing his feelings about the war. He stated, “It’s
time I came home. I’m getting bitter and cynical… I can see more and more good
about the Vietnamese and less and less about the US advisers.” Little did
Badcoe know this letter was coincidental and ironic. It was his final letter
home.
On the same day
of April 7th Badcoe learned that
the Reaction Company of the South Vietnamese 1st Division was having
difficulties near An Thuan. As he was aware that unless advisers were present
the company would be denied air support, Badcoe and a US Army Sargent drove to
the area. After discovering the force had fell back, Badcoe, once again showing
his immense amounts of leadership, took charge, rallying the men against the
fire going over their heads. All whilst supporting the other men Badcoe crawled
ahead of the group and attempted on several different occasions to silence
machine-gun fire with a grenade. On a few of the occasions the American saved
his life pulling him out of the line of fire. Rising for one final attempt at
the machine-gun Major Peter John Badcoe was shot and killed instantly, another
young Australian killed in action and another family without a father, son and husband.
The medals of Major Peter Badcoe
These were the
feats of gallant and leadership that not only made Australia recognise his
efforts but also the Vietnamese and Americans. Peter Badcoe was awarded
Australia’s highest honor in the military, the Victoria Cross, the United
States Silver Star and the Vietnamese National Order, three Crosses for
Gallantry and the Armed Forces Honor Medal. He was an inspiration to all
fighters regardless of their nationality. and His funeral in Hue was the
largest that could be recalled by any allied soldier. His family did not attend
the funeral as Peter had previously confided in his wife that he believes
military funerals were terribly horrendous for families. Major Peter John Badcoe
is now buried in the Terendak Military Cemetery in Malaysia, his headstone
reading a line provided by his widow that could not be truer, “He lived and
died a solder.” Lest we forget.
The
Vietnam War. A tragic conflict that took the lives of so many young Australians
who were required to go and fight. Approximately 60 thousand Australians were
sent into the midst of the conflict, 3 thousand were injured and 500
Australian’s tragically lost
their lives. 4 of the 60 thousand Australian’s,
that were served our country received the Victoria Cross. One of these recipients was
Peter Badcoe, a Major serving in the Australian Regular Army.
Peter was born in Malvern, Adelaide, on the 11th
January 1934 with the name of Peter John Badcock to his father, Leslie Allen
Badcock and mother, Gladys Mary Ann May. Peter was the only child to the pair
and there is very little information available about his childhood and
education. This is proof that the stories and lives of the soldiers really are
being forgotten.
Of what is known, Peter was educated at Adelaide
Technical High School before gaining an intermediate certificate and leaving at
the young age of 15. He worked as a clerk in the public service but always
yearned for a life in the military. This dream was against his Father’s wishes.
After years of pestering his father for permission, Peter then enlisted in the
Australian Regular Army at age 18. Two years later, on the 13th of
December 1952, Peter graduated from Officer Cadet School in Victoria and was commissioned
as a Second Lieutenant. Badcoe was then
posted to several different locations over a number of years. These include the
14th National Service Training Battalion in 1953 and
between 1955-1957 and 1st Field Regiment twice between 1953-1955 and 1957-1958.
In 1956 at age 22, Peter married 17-year-old
Denise Maureen McMahon. Between 1956 and 1961 Denise and Peter had three
daughters and Peter grew to become not only a devoted soldier but also, a
devoted father. Many letters home expressed his love for his daughters and wife
which were often addressed to as “My Darling Girls”.
Promoted to
temporary captain in December 1958, he worked as a general staff officer at
Army Headquarters in Canberra. In July 1961, he changed his surname to Badcoe.
After returning to regimental duties, he served in Malaya from late 1961 to
1963 as battery captain with 103 Field Battery, accompanied by his family
during one of the happiest periods of their lives together
In August 1965, Badcoe transferred
from artillery to infantry. In June of 1966 he was promoted to a provincial
major and only a month later on the 6th of August he was deployed to
Saigon, now known as Ho Chi Minh City. It was during this deployment that
Badcoe gained the nickname of the ‘Galloping Major’, due to his energy.
His colleagues described Badcoe as a
friendly solder with a dry sense of humor much like many other soldiers of this
period. After seeing, hearing and feeling some of the things that these vets
did, there is no surprise that a lot of them come with this type of humor. He was a very private man who’s main support
came from his wife, his sole confidante. He was never seen to drink, nor smoke
much, unlike other soldiers and was often bored with the activities found in
the mess, rather opting to entertain himself by reading a book on small arms or
military history. If one was to witness
Badcoe in action they would not be able to tell it was the same man who
companied himself with a book in his free time. With a lack of better terms,
Badcoe seemed invincible, at his forefront of his troops and conspicuous in his
red paratrooper beret.
Badcoe, unlike any
other soldier, acquired an understanding of the Vietnamese people, and an
affectionate regard for the soldiers he commanded. In order to obtain equipment
for his poorly provisioned troops, he often traded spirits and souvenirs from
the Australian canteen with American Marines. He also acquired food and
supplies which were donated to local orphanages.
As well as
countless other acts of heroism, there are three events in early 1967 in which
Major Peter John Badcoe exemplified what it means to be courageous and
selfless. These are the events that won Badcoe his Victoria Cross, along with
countless other awards and medals.
The first of
these actions occurred on February the 23rd during a small operation
in Phu Thu district, in which Badcoe ran across 600 meters of (Open fire? Or
actual fire? fire, swept open ground with minimal cover to assist a territorial
platoon. After taking complete control of the unit in the area, Badcoe lead a
frontal attack, single-handedly charged an enemy machine-gun post and shot its
crew. He also managed to retrieve a body of an American advisor killed in
action along before delving deeper into enemy fire to rescue another who was
wounded.
The second immensely
gallant event occurred on the 7th of March of the same year, the
district headquarters near Hue were attacked by a strong Viet Cong Unit. As
Badcoe was in command when he organized and led a series of assaults which
drove out the Viet Cong forces, saving the headquarters.
Exactly a month
later on April 7th, Peter Badcoe was writing to his wife. This
letter held the details containing his feelings about the war. He stated, “It’s
time I came home. I’m getting bitter and cynical… I can see more and more good
about the Vietnamese and less and less about the US advisers.” Little did
Badcoe know this letter was coincidental and ironic. It was his final letter
home.
On the same day
of April 7th Badcoe learned that
the Reaction Company of the South Vietnamese 1st Division was having
difficulties near An Thuan. As he was aware that unless advisers were present
the company would be denied air support, Badcoe and a US Army Sargent drove to
the area. After discovering the force had fell back, Badcoe, once again showing
his immense amounts of leadership, took charge, rallying the men against the
fire going over their heads. All whilst supporting the other men Badcoe crawled
ahead of the group and attempted on several different occasions to silence
machine-gun fire with a grenade. On a few of the occasions the American saved
his life pulling him out of the line of fire. Rising for one final attempt at
the machine-gun Major Peter John Badcoe was shot and killed instantly, another
young Australian killed in action and another family without a father, son and husband.
These were the
feats of gallant and leadership that not only made Australia recognise his
efforts but also the Vietnamese and Americans. Peter Badcoe was awarded
Australia’s highest honor in the military, the Victoria Cross, the United
States Silver Star and the Vietnamese National Order, three Crosses for
Gallantry and the Armed Forces Honor Medal. He was an inspiration to all
fighters regardless of their nationality. and His funeral in Hue was the
largest that could be recalled by any allied soldier. His family did not attend
the funeral as Peter had previously confided in his wife that he believes
military funerals were terribly horrendous for families. Major Peter John Badcoe
is now buried in the Terendak Military Cemetery in Malaysia, his headstone
reading a line provided by his widow that could not be truer, “He lived and
died a solder.”
Lest we forget.
