"Never leave anyone behind"
Faithe JonesCpl. Cameron Stewart Baird, VC, MG. 2nd. Commando Regiment
Born 7th June 1981, Burnie, Tasmania. Awarded VC 22nd June 2013 in Chawchak, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.
Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG 2nd Commando Regiment Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird was born in Burnie in 1981. He is the 100th Australian to receive the Victoria Cross, the highest honour Australians can bestow on an individual.
This medal was awarded posthumously for his bravery, extreme devotion to duty and his ultimate self-sacrifice in Afghanistan on 22 June 2013. On that day in Ghawchak village, Uruzgan province, Corporal Baird lost his life defending his teammates during an assault on Taliban insurgents.
As team commander, he selflessly drew enemy machine-gun fire, allowing his team to regain the initiative and preserving the lives of his fellow commandos.
We honour his memory as a "good bloke" and exemplary leader who lived by the motto, "Never leave anyone behind". He died as he lived - at the front, giving his all, without any indecision.
He is one of 41 Australian soldiers to have lost their lives in Afghanistan.
We Will Remember Him.
