Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The Distinguished Service Cross was established by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by Act of July 25, 1963), 10 U.S.C. 3742. It is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Army, distinguishes himself or herself by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing Armed Force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The act or acts of heroism must have been so notable and have involved risk of life so extraordinary as to set the individual apart from his comrades.1 BRADY, Lieutenant Vincent John Joseph https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/157604 13th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, AIF CADDY, Sergeant Thomas Ernest https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/195256 43rd Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF  ERRINGTON, Sergeant Arthur https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/378599 32nd Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF  HILL, Lieutenant John Holroyd https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/169086 50th Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF  MORISSET, Captain Vaux Liddiard https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/201762 31st Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF  PADGETT, Lance-Corporal John Rush https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/368177 44th Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF PARKES, Private Thomas https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/322194 55th Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF RODAKIS, Sergeant Nicholas https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/164392 4th Australian Machine Gun Company, AIF TREWARN, Private Frederick https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/171715 5th Machine Gun Battalion, AIF  1    Title 32 - National Defense. Subtitle A - Department of Defense (Continued). Chapter V - Department Of The Army. Subchapter F - Personnel. Part 578 - Decorations, Medals, Ribbons, And Similar Devices. - General.  

Left: Bill Evans, a wireless operator and air gunner in D-Day Right: Bill Purdy, pilot with RAAF's 463 Squadron

Arthur Harris: School cadets, Burra School, South Australia, 1907/8. Arthur Harris is seated second from right in the middle row. Service in school cadets was widespread in the colonies around the turn of the Century, and was a key component of the organisation of the Defence Force post Federation, following a review by Field Marshal Kitchener. They are armed with Martini-Henry .310 calibre 'Cadet' rifles. Photo: Harris family records

MOROTAI, HALMAHERA ISLANDS, NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES. C. 1945-01. A CATCHY INSIGNIA ON THEIR AIRCRAFT IS EVOLVED BY MOST PILOTS AND 417413 SERGEANT TED QUINN, GUMERACHA, SA, A KITTYHAWK PILOT OF NO. 80 SQUADRON RAAF AT AN ADVANCED RAAF BASE IN THE SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC AREA IS PROUD OF "GINGER MEGGS" SITTING ON A BOMB PAINTED ON THE FUSELAGE OF HIS FIGHTER AIRCRAFT, NICKNAMED "47 US FELLAS".

"The last Squadron involved was No. 463, which included pilot William (Bill) Jack Purdy. The Squadron flew Arvo Lancasters, each equiped with ‘14 1,000 pound bombs,’ and on D-Day, attacked the five German naval guns at Point du Hoc. Bill recalls D-Day as ‘a sight to be seen,’ with ‘5,000 small boats and 300 warships’ blanketing the English Channel. It was almost as if he could have ‘put his wheels down and taxied home,’ such was the proximity of the ships clustered together. On D-Day, all of 463 Squadron’s bombs on D-Day were dropped in an area ‘less than the size of a city block,’ completely obliterating the German defences and artillery. Without the success of this critical mission, the American Ranger Assault Group may not have been able to capture Point du Hoc later that day. Bill’s final memory of the mission is returning back to base and eating bacon and eggs, only to be interrupted and sent back into the fighting. Bill flew in a further 36 sorties during the invasion of Normandy. He survived the war, and was awarded the DFC. In 2014, at the age of 90, he flew lead Tiger Moth in the Anzac Day fly over of Sydney Harbour, proving that even 70 years after D-Day, he is still very at home in the air."