Leslie Thomas Starcevich

Leslie Thomas (Tom) Starcevich VC (September 5, 1918-17 November1989) was born at Subiaco, Western Australia he was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Starcevich grew up and later lived at Grass Patch, north of Esperance, Western Australia, and served as a private in the Australian Army's 2/43rd Battalion (raised in South Australia) during World War II.

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-handed captured two more posts, disposing of seven of the enemy.

The track on which the action was later renamed Victoria Cross Road.

Starcevich's VC is on display at the Army Museum of Western Australia, in Fremantle, Western Australia.

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

External links

* [http://www.peoplesvoice.gov.au/stories/wa/esperance/esperance_w_vc.htm "The Mallee’s First VC" ] peoplesvoice.gov.au (2001)