Keith Payne

Warrant Officer, Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam

VC
Register No.
972 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank
Warrant Officer (register: Warrant Officer Class II) all Warrant Officers →
Unit
Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam (register: Australian Army Training Team Vietnam) all Australian Army Training Team Vietnam VCs →
Date of action
24 May 1969 on this day → all of 1969 →
Conflict / campaign
Vietnam War
London Gazette
19th September 1969 on this day → all of 1969 →
Born
30th August 1933 at Ingham, Queensland, Australia
Memorial / grave
on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

PAYNE, Keith. (reg No. 972).

Warrant Officer. Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam.

London Gazetted on 19th September 1969.

Born on 30th August 1933 at Ingham, Queensland, Australia. Attended VC dedication at Westminster Abbey on 14th May 2003 Memorial on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia. (see previous line)

Digest of Citation reads: In Vietnam on 24th May 1969, Warrant Officer Payne displayed outstanding courage and leadership by guiding his men to safety under the most difficult conditions after they had been attacked by the enemy in superior strength. Warrant Officer Payne also held the United States of America's Medals, The Silver Star Award; Distinguished Service Cross; the United States Meritorious Unit Citation as well as the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star and the Vietnamese Unit Citation Cross of Gallantry with Palm

Alf's notes on his life

(see previous line) Digest of Citation reads: In Vietnam on 24th May 1969, Warrant Officer Payne displayed outstanding courage and leadership by guiding his men to safety under the most difficult conditions after they had been attacked by the enemy in superior strength. Warrant Officer Payne also held the United States of America's Medals, The Silver Star Award; Distinguished Service Cross; the United States Meritorious Unit Citation as well as the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star and the Vietnamese Unit Citation Cross of Gallantry with Palm

Attended VC dedication at Westminster Abbey on 14th May 2003

Visit the grave or memorial

Alf recorded the memorial as: on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia

Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.

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