Peter Badcoe VC Rest Area, Federal Hwy, Canberra, Australia - Highway Rest Areas on Waymarking.com

About The Remembrance Driveway

Nearly all cultures have found ways of remembering wars and honouring their war heroes. Some preserved the memory through myths and legends and others built monuments.

The Great War of 1914-1918 fostered an enormous community need to establish lasting memorials to those who served their country. Today Australia has more war memorials than any other nation.

After World War II, planting trees was seen as a symbol of hope for the future. Mrs Margaret Davis MBE, the Founding President of the Garden Clubs of Australia, suggested planting a living memorial to those Australians who had served in World War II.

A preliminary committee was formed in April 1952 to investigate planting avenues of trees and establishing groves and memorial parks along the Hume and Federal Highways between Sydney and Canberra to honour those who had served as members of the Australian Defence Forces during World War II. This committee became the Remembrance Driveway Committee.

In 1954 the Queen and Prince Philip launched the Remembrance Driveway when they each planted a Plane tree in Macquarie Place, Sydney. These trees mark the Sydney end of the Driveway. In 2002 three Red Spotted Gums were planted by the Governor-General in the Remembrance Park, behind the Australian War Memorial, Canberra to mark the Canberra end of the Driveway.

During the 1980s, the M5 Freeway, south of Liverpool, replaced the Hume Highway and it has become the new route for the Driveway, with native trees and shrubs being planted along its length.

The Remembrance Driveway is a tribute from those who remember yesterday and have faith in tomorrow. It commemorates all those who served in the Australian Defence Forces in World War II and subsequent wars or who have served since then in defence of the nation's interests, in operational theatres around the world.

During the mid-1990s the Committee decided to develop the Victoria Rest Areas and Memorial Parks. These honour Australian Victoria Cross recipients from World War Two, the Vietnam war and subsequent conflicts. Because of their acts of valour and extraordinary personal courage, they have been selected by name to represent all men and women commemorated along the Driveway. These memorials have been completed using Committee funds (most of which are donated by the public) and funding from the Federal, NSW and ACT Governments, and with support from commercial entities such as 7-Eleven (Kenna VC Rest Area, Pheasants Nest, NSW). 23 such Victoria Cross memorials have been established as of August 2012.

I hope that those using the Driveway will reflect on the sacrifices made by the soldiers, sailors and airmen who have defended our national interests, helped forge our national identity and continue to serve the nation to this day.

PETER BADCOE

Peter John Badcoe VC (11 January 1934 – 7 April 1967) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 33 years old, and a major in the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam during the Vietnam War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 23 February 1967, in Huong Trà, Vietnam, Major Badcoe rescued, under heavy fire, a United States Medical Adviser. On 7 March, he led his company in an attack and turned what seemed to be certain defeat into a victory. Again, on 7 April, he attempted to lead his company against more powerful opposition. This final act of bravery resulted in his death. The main hall at Officer Cadet School, Portsea was named in his honour, as is the main lecture theatre in the Military Instruction Block at the Royal Military College, Duntroon.

For his "three acts of heroism" and "outstanding leadership" between February and April 1967, Badcoe was posthumously decorated with the Victoria Cross. The full citation for the award appeared in a supplement of the London Gazette on 17 October 1967, reading in part

The QUEEN has been graciously pleased on the advice of Her Majesty's Australian Ministers to approve the posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:

Major PETER JOHN BADCOE (41400), Royal Australian Infantry Corps.

On 23rd February 1967 he was acting as an Advisor to a Regional Force Company in support of a Sector operation in Phu Thu District. He monitored a radio transmission which stated that the Subsector Adviser, a United States Army Officer, had been killed and that his body was within 50 metres of an enemy machine gun position; further, the United States Medical Adviser had been wounded and was in immediate danger from the enemy. Major BADCOE with complete disregard for his own safety moved alone across 600 metres of fire-swept ground and reached the wounded Adviser, attended to him and ensured his future safety. He then organised a force of one platoon and led them towards the enemy post. His personal leadership, words of encouragement, and actions in the face of hostile enemy fire forced the platoon to successfully assault the enemy position and capture it, where he personally killed the machine gunners directly in front of him. He then picked up the body of the dead officer and ran back to the Command post over open ground still covered by enemy fire.

On 7th March 1967, at approximately 0645 hours, the Sector Reaction Company was deployed to Quang Dien Subsector to counter an attack by the Viet Cong on the Headquarters. Major BADCOE left the Command group after their vehicle broke down and a United States Officer was killed; he joined the Company Headquarters and personally led the company in an attack over open terrain to assault and capture a heavily defended enemy position. In the face of certain death and heavy losses his personal courage and leadership turned certain defeat into victory and prevented the enemy from capturing the District Headquarters.

On 7th April 1967, on an operation in Huong Tra District, Major BADCOE was with the 1st A.R.V.N. Division Reaction Company and some armoured personnel carriers. During the move forward to an objective the company came under heavy small arms fire and withdrew to a cemetery for cover, this left Major BADCOE and his radio operator about 50 metres in front of the leading elements, under heavy mortar fire. Seeing this withdrawal, Major BADCOE ran back to them, moved amongst them and by encouragement and example got them moving forward again. He then set out in front of the company to lead them on; the company stopped again under heavy fire but Major BADCOE continued on to cover and prepared to throw grenades, when he rose to throw, his radio operator pulled him down as heavy small arms fire was being brought to bear on them; he later got up again to throw a grenade and was hit and killed by a burst of machine gun fire. Soon after, friendly artillery fire was called in and the position was assaulted and captured.

Major BADCOE'S conspicuous gallantry and leadership on all these occasions was an inspiration to all, each action, ultimately, was successful, due entirely to his efforts, the final one ending in his death. His valour and leadership were in the highest traditions of the military profession and the Australian Regular Army.

Badcoe's medal group and personal memoirs were offered for sale by auction in Sydney on 20 May 2008. Estimated at between A$400,000–600,000, the group eventually sold for A$488,000 to Kerry Stokes in collaboration with the South Australian State Government. Badcoe's Victoria Cross and associated medals were displayed at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide, prior to being toured to regional South Australia in 2009, before being displayed permanently at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

For his services in Vietnam, in addition to the Victoria Cross, Peter Badcoe was also decorated by the United States of America with the Silver Star with oak leaf cluster for valor (sic), the Purple Heart after being wounded, and the Air Medal. The South Vietnamese awarded him the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Gold Star and Silver Star, and the Wound Medal.

Highway Number: Federal Highway 23 Common Name for the Highway: Federal Highway Highway Access Direction: Either Direction Rest Area Name: Peter Badcoe VC Rest Area Facilities: Picnic Tables, Toilets Services: None Special Features: Brilliant View over Lake George WiFi: no

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