Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia

Victoria Cross Inquiry

18 April 2011
The Australian Government has announced that the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal will inquire into unresolved recognition for past acts of naval and military gallantry and valour.

Specifically, the Tribunal has been directed to make recommendations on the eligibility of 13 naval and military members to receive the Victoria Cross, the Victoria Cross for Australia or other forms of recognition.

The 13 including Leading Aircrewman Noel Shipp of Queensland (pictured at right) who died in Vietnam in May 1969 when his gunship crashed after being hit by ground fire. Shipp and his US counterpart hung outside the helo's cabin, exposed to enemy fire, engaging enemy ground troops with their M60 machine guns. In the course of this action the helicopter was struck by ground fire and the gunship spun out of control, striking the ground and exploding. All of the crew members were killed instantly. LS Shipp was seen to continue firing his weapon until the moment of impact.

The 13 named in the government announcement were:

• Gunner Albert Neil (Neale) Cleary – Army (East Geelong, VIC)
• Midshipman Robert Ian Davies – Navy (Greenwich, Sydney, NSW)
• Leading Cook Francis Bassett Emms – Navy (Launceston, TAS)
• Lieutenant David John Hamer – Navy (Melbourne, VIC)
• Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick – Army (Shield, County Durham, UK.)
• Lieutenant Commander Robert William Rankin – Navy (Cobar, NSW)
• Able Seaman Dalmorton Joseph Owendale Rudd – Navy (Unknown)
• Ordinary Seaman Edward Sheean – Navy (Barrington, Devonport, TAS)
• Leading Aircrewman Noel Ervin Shipp – Navy (Julia Creek, North QLD)
• Lieutenant Commander Francis Edward Smith – Navy (Lismore, NSW)
• Lieutenant Commander Henry Hugh Gordon Dacre Stoker – Navy (Unknown)
• Leading Seaman Ronald Taylor – Navy (Unknown)
• Captain Hector Macdonald Laws Waller – Navy (Unknown)

In making the announcement, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator David Feeney, there had been numerous acts of gallantry and valour by Australian naval and military servicemen since World War I. For the 13 naval and military personnel, their acts of gallantry and valour "deserve greater recognition".

"Through the Terms of Reference, I have directed the Tribunal to make recommendations on the eligibility of these members to receive the Victoria Cross, the Victoria Cross for Australia or other forms of recognition for their service.

"The Tribunal will receive submissions from members of the public for other Defence Force members who may also be worthy of appropriate recognition for an act of gallantry or valour," he said.

The inquiry will be headed by the Chair of the Tribunal, Emeritus Professor Dennis Pearce AO. He will be assisted by Tribunal members Professor David Horner AM, Professor of Australian Defence History in the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University, Vice Admiral Don Chalmers AO (Retd), former Chief of Navy, Brigadier Gary Bornholt AM, CSC (Retd), former senior Army officer, and Air Commodore Mark Lax OAM, CSM (Retd), former senior Air Force officer.

Public hearings around Australia are expected in the second half of 2011, following a call for submissions which will be advertised in the national press. Submissions to the inquiry will close on 30 June 2011. The full terms of reference for the inquiry and guidance on how to make a submission is at www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au.

The Tribunal can be contacted at Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal, Locked Bag 7765, Canberra Business Centre ACT 2610 or via e-mail to .

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