EDITORIAL: Finally, hero Private Richard Leslie Norden receives the recognition he deserves

Australia’s military history is filled with stories of astonishing bravery, from men and women who put their lives on the line for their mates, their colleagues and their country.

But only a special few are awarded the very highest honour.

The Victoria Cross is awarded in recognition of “the most conspicuous acts of gallantry in action in the presence of the enemy”.

In the award’s 170-year history, only 102 Australian military personnel have received the VC.

The latest to join their ranks is the late army Private Richard Leslie Norden.

Pte Norden was just 19 and a rifleman with the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment when his platoon was ambushed by the North Vietnamese Army in May 1968 during the Battle of Fire Support Base Coral.

Two members of his platoon — his second commander and a forward scout — were wounded in the initial stages of fighting.

Under heavy enemy fire, Pte Norden ran into the fray, killing one enemy soldier. Out of ammunition in his own weapon, he used that enemy soldier’s firearm to repel the north Vietnamese soldiers, and “half carried, half dragged” the commander back to safety.

Severely wounded himself, he then left safety again to go back for the scout, killing an enemy soldier who had been using him as a human shield. Having seen the scout was already dead, Pte Norden went back to his section to collect grenades, before pressing ahead for a third time to clear the area so his fallen comrade’s body could be recovered.

Not only did he save the life of the section commander and secure the return of the scout’s body, but his courageous actions caused enemy soldiers to abandon their positions.

Twenty-five Australians were killed and more than 100 wounded in the month-long Battle of Fire Support Base Coral. If it were not for Pte Norden, that toll would surely have been greater.

Finally, 56 years after his astonishing act of heroism, Pte Norden is getting the recognition he deserves.

Pte Norden survived the war, returning home to join the ACT police.

Sadly, he died just a few years later, killed in a motorcycle accident while on duty.

He was just 24.

Rodger Norden said the town of Gundagai, where Pte Norden grew up, was overflowing with pride for his humble brother.

“He was quiet, but he was a larrikin,” Rodger said.

“No matter what he did he always excelled, but he didn’t make a big fuss of it either.”

But like many of our heroes, Pte Norden didn’t like to speak about what went on in the battlefield, having only mentioned it to his brother once in passing that he was up for a medal before he received the Distinguished Conduct Medal in November 1968.

“I said, ‘Oh yeah, what did you do?’ But he didn’t say anything,” Rodger said.

“He was just that type of bloke.”

Now, more than half a century on, all of Australia knows his story.