Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird V.C. Print Page

The memorial and plaque commemorate Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird who was awarded the Victoria Cross (V.C.) posthumously for his actions in Afghanistan.  

''For the most conspicuous acts of valour, extreme devotion to duty and ultimately self-sacrifice at Ghawchak village, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, as a commando team commander in Special Operations Task Group on Operation Slipper.’’

This was the citation used to describe Corporal Cameron Baird’s acts of bravery deserving a Victoria Cross for Australia which was awarded posthumously to his father and mother, Doug and Kaye Baird on 18 February 2014. The Victoria Cross is the highest award for bravery in wartime and Australia's highest honour.

Corporal Baird was born a Burnie boy. He enjoyed his football and played at a high level. His father Doug played for the Cooee Football Club and coached the Ulverstone football club until the family moved to Melbourne in 1984. What is not so well known is that a football injury to Cameron’s shoulder nearly stopped him joining the Army.

Cameron was knocked back twice from enlisting in the Army because of this shoulder injury but on his third attempt with the support of his parents, he successfully enlisted on 4 January 2000. Cameron Baird was deployed to East Timor and Iraq before leaving the Army in July 2004. In September 2006 he re-enlisted and in mid-2007 then Lance Corporal Baird deployed to Afghanistan and during a nigh-time operation on 22 and 23 November 2007 was awarded the medal of Gallantry for ‘gallantry in action during close quarters combat’.

On 22 June 2013 , Corporal Baird was killed in action on his fourth deployment to Afghanistan while leading his Special Operations Task Group team to attack an insurgent network deep in enemy territory.

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