For Valour: Australians Awarded the Victoria Cross

(Paperback)

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For Valour tells the remarkable stories of the 100 Australians who have been awarded the Victoria Cross for exceptional acts of bravery and self-sacrifice in battle. From Captain Neville Howse of the New South Wales Army Medical Corps in 1900 to Corporal Cameron Baird of the 2nd Commando Regiment in 2013, heroic actions in the Boer War appear alongside those from the First World War, North Russia, the Second World War, Vietnam and Afghanistan. Vivid descriptions of events on the battlefield are matched with biographical profiles of each of the recipients to provide insights into their lives outside wartime service.

With a foreword from Daniel Keighran VC, new archival research and striking photographs and artworks from the Australian War Memorial, For Valour commemorates the servicemen who have been awarded the military's highest honour.

'For Valourcommemorates the extraordinary actions and character that the Victoria Cross honours. Vital leadership in times of mortal danger. Rescuing comrades at the risk of one's own life. Standing fast against overwhelming odds.' Dame Quentin Bryce

'Fine writing and a fitting tribute.' Good Weekend Magazine

Reviews

For Valour commemorates the extraordinary actions and characterthat the Victoria Cross honours. Vital leadership in times of mortal danger. Rescuing comrades at the risk of ones own life. Standing fast against overwhelming odds.

It is right that we recognise these transcendent human qualities; that we draw courage and inspiration from them; that they are our touchstones and our source of eternal hope. Dame Quentin Bryce

Author Bio

Aaron Pegram is a senior historian in the Military History Section at the Australian War Memorial. He is an authority on the First World War and has worked on a number of major exhibitions, been the tour leader and historical guide for battlefield tours to the Western Front, and published widely on Australian military history. He has a BA (Hons) from Charles Sturt University and a PhD from the Australian National University.

Craig Blanch, an Honours graduate from Wollongong University, is a curator at the Australian War Memorial, and one of the organisations foremost authorities on the Victoria Cross. He worked on the redevelopment of the Hall of Valour in 2010 and works closely with the Memorials Victoria Cross collection.