Private Richard Norden posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia
In November, on Remembrance Day, we gathered as a nation to acknowledge those who died or suffered during military service. As we collectively honoured service personnel, our highest military honour, The Victoria Cross for Australia, was bestowed on the late Private Richard Norden.
The Victoria Cross for Australia is the pre-eminent award for acts of bravery in wartime. It is awarded for the most conspicuous gallantry or daring or pre-eminent acts of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.
The citation for Private Richard Leslie Norden DCM reads in part:
For most conspicuous acts of gallantry in action in the presence of the enemy in the ‘AO Surfers’ Area of Operation in the Bien Hoa province, Vietnam, on 14 May 1968 during the Battle of Fire Support Base Coral.
After enlisting in the Australian Army in April 1966, Private Richard Norden deployed to Vietnam in late 1967. With several postings in his first year in Vietnam, he joined the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment on 10 April 1968.
On 14 May 1968, during Operation Toan Thang, 5th Platoon B Company were ambushed, coming under heavy automatic weapon fire from a squad of North Vietnamese Army regular soldiers in established positions. The initial contact left the forward scout and section commander wounded, cut off from the remainder of the leading section, which itself was cut off from the rest of the platoon by heavy and accurate enemy fire.
Of his own accord, Private Norden (a member of the leading section) called for covering fire and made his way forward to rescue his wounded brothers-in-arms. Under heavy fire and crossing ground with little to no cover, he managed to retrieve the section commander, killing one North Vietnamese Army solider in the process. Having expended his ammunition, Private Norden used his enemy’s automatic weapon against further North Vietnamese Army combatants. Under intense enemy fire he half-dragged, half-carried the severely wounded section commander to safety – saving his life.
Despite being seriously wounded in the initial skirmish, Private Norden continued his advance to retrieve the scout. He again came under fire from a North Vietnamese Army soldier who was using the scout as a human shield. He killed the soldier, and upon reaching the scout, saw he was dead.
Private Norden returned to the section to resupply and collect grenades before advancing for a third time to clear the area and recover the body of the scout. His three courageous solo attacks into the enemy’s position secured the area.
Private Norden, showing a complete disregard for his personal safety through his daring and selfless acts and commitment to duty, single-handedly retrieving and saving the life of a severely wounded fellow solider. His continued bold actions, while wounded, allowed the recovery of the body of the forward scout, and, most likely, ensured his platoon members avoided any potential further deaths.
He continued to serve his country upon returning to Australia as a police officer in the Australian Capital Territory. Tragically, he died at just 24 years of age following a traffic accident while on duty.
We salute his service and sacrifice.
To learn more about Private Richard Leslie Norden DCM, visit our Anzac Portal.
Image 1 - Governor of NSW, Sir Roden Cutler, congratulates two men after decorating them for bravery, the late Private Richard Norden VC is in the centre. Image courtesy of George Lipman. Image 2 - the late Private Richard Norden VC.