THE VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO LANCE CORPORAL BERNARD GORDON, 41ST BN, AIF, HAS BEEN UNEARTHED IN AUSTRALIA AND HAS BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY BONHAMS & GOODMAN IN SYDNEY.
28 November 2006, Sydney, Australia


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Lance Corporal Bernard Gordon,
41st Bn, Australian Imperial Force

  • Victoria Cross
  • Military Medal ( MM ) ( not shown )
  • British War Medal ( 1914-20 ) ( not shown )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914-19 ) ( not shown )
  • King George VI Coronation Medal ( 1937 )
  • Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ( 1953 )


The Victoria Cross awarded to Lance Corporal Bernard Gordon, 41st Bn, AIF, has been sold at auction by Bonhams & Goodman of Sydney for a hammer price of AUS$400,000 ( £160,356 ). The VC was accompanied by Gordon's two coronation medals of 1937 and 1953, but the whereabouts of his Military Medal, British War Medal and Victory Medal from the First World War are unknown. The successful bidder was a lady bidding on behalf of second party who wished to remain anonymous.

At a small ceremony held on Tuesday, 12 December 2006, the Victoria Cross awarded to Bernard Gordon was handed over into the care of the Australian War Memorial by the anonymous buyer of the VC.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 26 December 1918 ], Fargny Wood, Nr Bray, France, 26-27 August 1918, Lance Corporal Bernard Sidney Gordon, 41st Bn, Australian Imperial Force.

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 26 / 27th August 1918, east of Bray. He led his section through heavy shell fire to the objective, which he consolidated.

Single-handed he attacked an enemy machine gun which was enfilading the company on his right, killed the man on the gun and captured the post, which contained one officer and ten men. He then cleared up a trench, capturing twenty-nine prisoners and two machine guns. In clearing up further trenches he captured twenty-two prisoners, including one officer, and three machine guns.

Practically unaided, he captured, in the course of these operations, two officers and sixty-one other ranks, together with six machine guns, and displayed throughout a wonderful example of fearless initiative.


For the award of the Military Medal ( MM )

[ London Gazette, 15 September 1918 ], Hamel, France, 8 August 1918, Lance Corporal Bernard Sidney Gordon, 41st Bn, Australian Imperial Force.

During the attack east of Hamel Private Gordon single-handedly attacked a machine gun crew which was holding up his section. He killed the crew and captured the gun. Later on in the day he stalked and killed an enemy sniper.

Throughout the operation he displayed much bravery and devotion to duty.


Bernard Gordon died at his home on the 19th October 1963 and was cremated at Mount Thompson Crematorium. His ashes were interred at Pinaroo Lawn Cemetery, Albany Creek, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, where there is also a plaque to his memory.

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Iain Stewart, 28 November 2006