Major Peter John Badcoe
41400 Royal Australian Infantry Corps

Peter John Badcoe was born Peter John Badcock on 11 January 1934 in Malvern, South Australia to Gladys Mary Ann May (nee Overton) and Leslie Allen Badcock, a foreman with the Engineering & Water Supply Department. He was one of two children, a sister named Thelma (Kelton). Badcoe attended Adelaide Technical High School where he played hockey and in 1950 entered the public service as his father did before him. On 10 June of the same year, Badcoe ended his career as a clerk and enlisted in the Australian Regular Army. On 13 December 1952, Badcoe graduated from Officer Cadet School in Portsea, Victoria as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Artillery. Postings include the 14th National Service Training Battalion in 1953 and from 1955 to 1957 and 1st Field Regiment from 1953 to 55 and from 1957 to 1958.

Badcoe married Denise Maureen MacMahon on 26 May 1956 in the Methodist Church in Manly, Sydney. Denise MacMahon had been working as a receptionist for the Mossman Council when in 1955 the 1st Field Regiment were asked to escort the debutantes at the Mossman Council Mayoral Ball. Soldiers and debutantes were matched according to height, but Badcoe was not Denise's original escort, managing to trade places. They were married one year later. They had three children: Kerry Anne (currently Carey), Kim Michele and Susanne Nicole.

From December 1958 to 1961, Badcoe served in the Directorate of Military Operations and Plans at Army Headquarters as a General Staff Officer Grade III. In 1961, he changed his name from Badcock to Badcoe. On 6 February 1961 Badcoe was posted to the 4th Field Regiment and in June of the same year was posted to the 103rd Field Battery. Badcoe served a tour of duty in Malaysia as temporary Captain from September 1961 to November 1963. Badcoe returned to the 1st Field Regiment from November 1963 to August 1965 when he transferred from artillery to infantry. Badcoe was promoted to provisional major in June 1966 and on 6 August of the same year he was deployed to Saigon to serve a tour of duty with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) as a Sector Operations Officer of the Nam Hoa district of Thua Thien Province. Initially, the AATTV advised and trained the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) units, indigenous people in the remote mountainous areas in the north-west, the South Vietnam's Civil Guard, the ARVN's Rangers and American Combined Studies Division. By 1965 AATTV Advisors accompanied their South Vietnamese Unit and engaged in combat. The AATTV were the most highly decorated unit in Vietnam.

The Victoria Cross was awarded for three acts of bravery:

23 February 1967: Badcoe moved on his own across 600m of open terrain under enemy fire to rescue a United States Medical Advisor. He then led a platoon to capture the enemy, personally killing the machine gunners and picked up the dead United States Army Subsector Advisor, carrying him over open terrain under enemy fire. He then administered first aid, saving the medic's life.

7 March 1967: Badcoe led a company in an open terrain attack to capture a numerically superior enemy position, preventing the capture of District Headquarters.

7 April 1967: during an operation near the An Thuan village in the Huong Tra District, the 1st ARVN Division Reaction Company and 14 armoured personnel carriers from the 7th Calvary Regiment came under 57mm recoilless rifle fire from two companies of Vietcong. They retreated for cover, leaving Badcoe and his radio operator, Sargeant Alberto Alverado, a US radio operator from Texas, approximately 50 metres in front under heavy mortar fire. Badcoe return to the company encouraging them to move forward and set out in front throwing hand grenades. The Vietcong opened up with fire leaving Badcoe and Alverado 15m ahead of the APC. The first time he rose to move the South Vietnamese forward, his operator pulled him down but was shot by machine gun fire on his second attempt. Alverado carried Badcoe to safety but he died soon after. Friendly artillery was called in soon after and the position was captured. 30 Vietcong were killed, 10 Vietcong weapons seized, 3 South Vietnamese were killed and 28 wounded.

Badcoe is buried in the Terenderk Military Cemetery, Malacca, Malaysia (see AA 1129/4).

Badcoe was a non drinker, non smoker who preferred the company of a good book rather than joining in the mess activities. A career soldier with a passion for military history and pistol shooting, he captured Chinese, Russian, Czech and French arms whilst serving in Vietnam.

His aerogrammes (see AA 1129/1) document his military deployment in Vietnam and family life, often referring to his princesses and appreciating the 'wonderful job' Niesi had in raising the family on her own. Badcoe looked forward to his return, saving his army pay for a family holiday.

Confiding in his wife, Badcoe would talk of his frustrations and speak affectionately with genuine concern for the South Vietnamese providing for their welfare to the best of his ability. He immersed himself in their language and culture, referring to his trained South Vietnamese soldiers as his kids.

Badcoe was given the name 'Galloping Major' because he was always on the go, regardless of the risk, wearing his red beret in action. He led by example, often placing himself in the line of fire.

Badcoe received a further three medals (see AA 1129/3 and 6) from Australia, five medals from the United States of America and four from South Vietnam (previously the Republic of Vietnam). Medals are as follows:

Australia: Victoria Cross, Vietnam Medal, Australian Army Training Team Vietnam and Australian Defence medals
United States of America: Purple Heart, Silver Star, Silver Star with oak leaf, Air medal and Vietnam Veterans National Medal
South Vietnam (previously the Republic of Vietnam): Wound medal, Cross of Gallantry with Silver star (2) and Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 bar

Badcoe's Victoria Cross was presented by the Governor-General , Richard Gavin Gardiner Casey (Baron Casey, 1890-1976) to Denise Badcoe at Parliament House on 5 April 1967. (see AA 1129/4) Badcoe's Victoria Cross was the second to be awarded to an Australian soldier in Vietnam and the 94th awarded to an Australian since the decoration was instituted in 1856.

Denise Badcoe (currently Clarke) received letters of condolences (see AA 1129/2) from Jac Weller (firearms expert and historian, 1913-1994), General William Childs Westmoreland (1914-2005), Prime Minister Harold Holt Edward (1908-1967) and Brigadier Frederick Thomas Whitelaw (1919-).

In memory of Badcoe a shrine has been built to him in Vietnam along with the women and children who had died on that day, his name was given to a club which provided recreational activities in Vung Tau, Phuoc Tuy Province, the main hall at the Officer Cadet School in Portsea, Victoria, the main lecture theatre in the Military Instruction Block at the Royal Military College Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory, a Victoria Cross Complex at the RAAF Base at Edinburgh, South Australia, and the Victoria Cross Medal in the Australia Football League (AFL).

The Badcoe collection was auctioned in Sydney on 20 May 2008 by Bonhams and Goodman. The collection was sold to Kerry Stokes and the Government of South Australia for $488,000. The collection is currently in the custody of the South Australian Museum.