Leslie Thomas Starcevich
Encyclopedia
Leslie Thomas "Tom" Starcevich VC
(5 September 1918 – 17 November 1989) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British
and Commonwealth
armed forces.
, Western Australia
, and served as a private
in the Australian Army
's 2/43rd Battalion (raised in South Australia
) during the Second World War.
The actions for which Starcevich received the VC occurred during the Borneo campaign of 1945
. On 28 June 1945, during the capture of Beaufort
, North Borneo
, the leading section of Starcevich's unit came under fire from Japanese
machine-gun posts and suffered casualties. Starcevich, a Bren gunner, moved forward and assaulted each post in turn, killing five of the enemy and causing the rest to retreat. Later, when the section was again held up, he adopted similar tactics and single-handedly captured two more posts, disposing of seven of the enemy.
Starcevich was presented with the ribbon of the Victoria Cross by Brigadier W. J. V. Windeyer
DSO during a unit parade at Papar
in North Borneo
on 12 November 1945.
The track on which the action occurred was later renamed Victoria Cross Road.
Starcevich's VC is on display at the Army Museum of Western Australia
, in Fremantle, Western Australia
.
The Leslie Starcevich ward at the former Repatriation General Hospital, Hollywood is named in his honour.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(5 September 1918 – 17 November 1989) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
armed forces.
Details
Starcevich grew up and later lived at Grass Patch, north of EsperanceEsperance, Western Australia
Esperance is a large town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located on the Southern Ocean coastline approximately east-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The shire of Esperance is home to 9,536 people as of the 2006 census, its major industries are tourism, agriculture,...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, and served as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
's 2/43rd Battalion (raised in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
) during the Second World War.
The actions for which Starcevich received the VC occurred during the Borneo campaign of 1945
Borneo campaign (1945)
The Borneo Campaign of 1945 was the last major Allied campaign in the South West Pacific Area, during World War II. In a series of amphibious assaults between 1 May and 21 July, the Australian I Corps, under General Leslie Morshead, attacked Japanese forces occupying the island. Allied naval and...
. On 28 June 1945, during the capture of Beaufort
Beaufort, Sabah
Beaufort which was named after former British Governor L.P. Beaufort is a town and a district located in Interior Division of Sabah in east Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Its population was estimated to be around 61,698 in 2000...
, North Borneo
North Borneo
North Borneo was a British protectorate under the sovereign North Borneo Chartered Company from 1882 to 1946. After the war it became a crown colony of Great Britain from 1946 to 1963, known in this time as British North Borneo. It is located on the northeastern end of the island of Borneo. It is...
, the leading section of Starcevich's unit came under fire from Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
machine-gun posts and suffered casualties. Starcevich, a Bren gunner, moved forward and assaulted each post in turn, killing five of the enemy and causing the rest to retreat. Later, when the section was again held up, he adopted similar tactics and single-handedly captured two more posts, disposing of seven of the enemy.
Starcevich was presented with the ribbon of the Victoria Cross by Brigadier W. J. V. Windeyer
Victor Windeyer
Major General Sir William John Victor Windeyer KBE CB DSO and Bar PC KC Australian judge, soldier and educator, was a Justice of the High Court of Australia....
DSO during a unit parade at Papar
Papar
The Papar were, according to early Icelandic historical sources, a group of Irish or Scottish monks resident in parts of Iceland at the time of the arrival of the Norsemen...
in North Borneo
North Borneo
North Borneo was a British protectorate under the sovereign North Borneo Chartered Company from 1882 to 1946. After the war it became a crown colony of Great Britain from 1946 to 1963, known in this time as British North Borneo. It is located on the northeastern end of the island of Borneo. It is...
on 12 November 1945.
The track on which the action occurred was later renamed Victoria Cross Road.
Starcevich's VC is on display at the Army Museum of Western Australia
Army Museum of Western Australia
The Army Museum of Western Australia is a museum located in an historic Artillery Barrack in Fremantle, Western Australia. The museum was established in 1977 and has three Victoria Crosses on display.-History:...
, in Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
.
The Leslie Starcevich ward at the former Repatriation General Hospital, Hollywood is named in his honour.
Further reading
- Monuments to CourageMonuments to CourageMonuments to Courage: Victoria Cross Monuments and Headstones is a two-volume book by David Harvey on the last resting places of 1,322 of the 1,350 recipients of the Victoria Cross. The 896 page book has over 5,000 illustrations and a large index enabling one to cross reference with ease. There is...
(David Harvey, 1999) - The Register of the Victoria CrossThe Register of the Victoria CrossThe Register of the Victoria Cross is a reference work that provides brief information on every Victoria Cross ever awarded: it provides a summary of the deed, along with a photograph of the awardee and the following details where applicable or available; rank, unit, other decorations, date of...
(This England, 1997)
External links
- "The Mallee’s First VC" peoplesvoice.gov.au (2001)
- Starcevich Memorial Stone, Beaufort, Sabah