Richard Norden (soldier)
{{short description|Australian soldier and Victoria Cross for Australia awardee}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Richard Norden
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1948|8|24|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1972|10|30|1948|8|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = Gundagai, New South Wales
| death_place = Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
| placeofburial = Woden Cemetery
| nickname =
| allegiance = Australia
| branch = Australian Army
| serviceyears =
| rank = Private
| servicenumber = 2412437{{cite web |title=CENTRAL CHANCERY OF ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4751980 |publisher=London Gazette |access-date=17 November 2024}}
| unit = 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
| commands =
| battles =
{{tree list}}
{{tree list/end}}
| awards = Victoria Cross for Australia
| relations =
| laterwork =
| module = {{Infobox police officer
|embed = yes
| department = Australian Federal Police
| service = Australia
| serviceyears = 1970–1972
| rank = Constable
| memorials =
}}
}}
Richard Leslie Norden, {{postnominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|VC}} (24 August 1948 – 30 October 1972{{cite news |date=2 December 1972 |title=Motor-cycle constable's death |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110623585 |accessdate=11 November 2024 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |publisher=John Fairfax Ltd. |page=8 |via=Trove |volume=47 |issue=13296}}{{cite web |date=27 August 2021 |title=Richard Leslie Norden |url=https://npm.org.au/honor-roll/richard-leslie-norden/ |access-date=11 November 2024 |website=National Police Memorial}}{{Citation
| author1=Australian Capital Territory Police.
| title=Annual report of the Australian Capital Territory Police.
| year=
| section=v. : ill. ; 25 cm.
| series=Parliamentary paper (Australia. Parliament)
| issue=1972/1973, PP no. 323 of 1973
| location=Canberra
| publisher=Australian Capital Territory Police
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1745800777
| id=nla.obj-1745800777
| access-date=26 November 2024
| via=Trove
}}{{efn |There are conflicting dates for Norden's death: his gravestone in Woden Cemetery states that he died on 31 October 1972; the National Police Memorial, the 1972/1973 ACT Police annual report, and a newspaper report of the coronial inquest into his death give the date as 30 October.}}) was a soldier in the Australian Army during the Vietnam War who was awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia.
After his military service, Norden served in the Australian Capital Territory Police Force. He was killed in a motorcycle accident while on duty at the age of 24.
Victoria Cross for Australia
Norden was born in Gundagai, New South Wales, on 24 August 1948 to Walter Norden and Rita Crane. He enlisted in the Australian Army on 27 April 1966, aged 18. After completing training in Australia, he deployed to Vietnam in late 1967 as part of a reinforcement unit. After completing further combat training in Vietnam, he was assigned to the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR) in late January 1968. He served with 7RAR for several months before being posted in-country to the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.{{cite web |url=https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/stories/biographies/richard-leslie-norden#:~:text=Richard%20was%20posthumously%20awarded%20the,the%20Battle%20of%20Coral%E2%80%93Balmoral. |title=Richard Leslie Norden |work=Anzac Portal |publisher=Department of Veterans' Affairs |accessdate=26 Apr 2025}} Norden was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal on 10 December 1968, for his actions during the Battle of Coral–Balmoral in Bình Dương province, South Vietnam.{{cite web |title=Distinguished Conduct Medal - London Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44732/supplement/13226 |publisher=London Gazette |access-date=17 November 2024}}
His platoon was ambushed by between eight and ten North Vietnamese soldiers, severely wounding the section commander and forward scout. Norden rushed forward under enemy fire, after expending his ammunition and killing one North Vietnamese soldier. Recovering the downed soldier's weapon he fired at the enemy, recovering the section commander, he then returned killing one soldier who had been using the forward scout as a shield. Discovering the scout to be dead, he then returned to his section to obtain grenades, before returning a third time to clear the area and allow the scout's body to be recovered. Nineteen-year-old Norden was severely wounded in the encounter, but survived his injuries.{{Cite press release |title=Media statements - Canberra |date=2024-11-11 |publisher=Prime Minister's Office |location=Australian War Memorial, Canberra |url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/media-statements-canberra |language=en-au |access-date=2024-11-12}}
In 2022, the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal recommended that Norden be posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia in lieu of the Distinguished Conduct Medal.{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Gerard |author-link=Gerard Martin (public servant) |orig-date=2024-10-01 |title=Victoria Cross for Australia - Richard Leslie Norden |url=https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-11/20241111%20-%20Gazette%20C2024G00664.pdf |access-date=2024-11-12 |work=Commonwealth Gazette |publication-date=2024-11-11 |id=C2024G00664}} The recommendation for the award was approved by King Charles III on 1 November 2024. The award was announced by Governor-General Sam Mostyn and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Australian War Memorial on 11 November.
Police career
After returning from Vietnam, Norden discharged from the Army in April 1969, having completed three years' service. He married Robynn Lenon in June 1969 and the couple established themselves in Canberra. Norden joined the Australian Capital Territory Police Force in February 1970. He died on active duty in a motorcycle collision in 1972 and was buried at Woden Cemetery.{{cite news |last=Greene |first=Andrew |last2=Scully |first2=Jess |date=11 November 2024 |title=Private Richard Norden awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery during the Vietnam War |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-11/private-richard-norden-awarded-victoria-cross/104584768 |access-date=11 November 2024 |website=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}
Notes
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References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Norden, Richard}}
Category:Australian recipients of the Victoria Cross
Category:Australian military personnel of the Vietnam War
Category:Australian police officers killed in the line of duty
Category:Motorcycle road incident deaths
Category:Road incident deaths in the Australian Capital Territory