Stories told

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 11^th 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 13^th 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 6^th 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 23^rd 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 7^th 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 7^th, 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 7^th 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 11^th 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 13^th 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 6^th 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 23^rd 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 7^th 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 7^th, 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 7^th 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.