b. 24/08/1948 Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia. d. 30/10/1972 Canberra, ACT, Australia.
DATE OF VC ACTION: 10/12/1968 Binh Duong Province, Vietnam.
Richard Leslie Norden VC
Richard Norden (1948-1972) was born on 24 August 1948 in Gundagai, New South Wales. At the outbreak of the Vietnam War, Richard enlisted with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. Following his posting to Vietnam, he found himself involved in the Battle of Coral-Balmoral in Binh Duong Province on 10 December 1968. For his actions during the battle, he was initially awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
His platoon was ambushed by between eight and ten North Vietnamese soldiers, severely wounding the section commander and forward scout. Norden rushed forward under enemy fire, after expending his ammunition and killing one North Vietnamese soldier. Recovering the downed soldier’s weapon he fired at the enemy, recovering the section commander, he then returned killing one soldier who had been using the forward scout as a shield. Discovering the scout to be dead, he then returned to his section to obtain grenades, before returning a third time to clear the area and allow the scout’s body to be recovered. Nineteen-year-old Norden was severely wounded in the encounter, but survived his injuries.
After the war, Norden joined the Australian Capital Territory Police Force in February 1970. He died on active duty in a motorcycle collision in 1972 in Canberra. He was buried in Woden Cemetery, Canberra, ACT.
In 2022 the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal recommended he be awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia in lieu of the Distinguished Conduct Medal. On 11 November 2024, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, after he had died in a motorcycle accident while on service with the Australian Capital Territory Police Force in 1972. Governor-General Sam Mostyn and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the award at the Australian War Memorial.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was quoted at the time of the announcement “Private Richard Norden is a true Australian hero. His exceptional bravery epitomises the spirit of our veterans, who we thank for their service. Private Norden demonstrated extraordinary courage and selflessness by putting his own life at risk to save and protect his fellow comrades. Remembrance Day is a chance to honour those who have served our nation – and Private Norden is one of the finest. Lest We Forget.”
VC CITATION:
On 14 May 1968 during Operation Toan Thang, 5th Platoon, B Company came under heavy fire from an estimated squad of Viet Cong.
In the initial contact both the forward scout and the section commander were wounded some twenty to thirty metres in front of the remainder of the leading section, which was isolated from the remainder of the platoon due to heavy and accurate enemy fire.
Private Norden, a member of the leading section, asked for covering fire and ran forward under heavy enemy fire to the wounded section commander. He killed one Viet Cong whilst moving forward, and having expended his ammunition recovered the enemy’s automatic weapon which he used against further Viet Cong while assisting the wounded section commander back to the section. Due to this initial action the life of the section commander was saved under intense enemy fire.
Although wounded in his initial move forward Private Norden again advanced to the forward scout. He was fired on by an enemy soldier, but pressed forward and reached the scout killing the Viet Cong who had been using the scout as a shield. Private Norden having determined that the scout was dead, returned to the section, collected grenades and cleared the area so that the body of the scout could be recovered.
His three attacks into the enemy position on his own resulted in the enemy position being secured.
Private Norden showed a complete disregard for his own personal safety, and by his courage and devotion to duty ensured the evacuation of a wounded man and the recovery of the body of the forward scout. Private Norden personally killed at least three Viet Cong in this action.
BURIAL LOCATION: WODEN CEMETERY, CANBERRA, AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY, AUSTRALIA.
H-AN-A-124
LOCATION OF MEDAL: TO BE PRESENTED TO FAMILY.
