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  • Tom Starcevich
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  • Leslie Thomas "Tom" Starcevich VC (5 September 1918 – 17 November 1989), was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of Commonwealth armed forces. He received the award as member of the Australian Army's 9th Division, during the Borneo campaign of World War II.
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serviceyears
  • 1941
Birth Date
  • 1918-09-05
Branch
death place
  • Esperance, Western Australia, Australia
Name
  • Leslie Thomas Starcevich
Align
  • left
Caption
  • Leslie Starcevich
Width
  • 25.0
Birth Place
  • Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia
Title
  • Citation
Awards
death date
  • 1989-11-17
Rank
Allegiance
  • Australia
Battles
Source
  • —London Gazette, 1945.
Quote
  • Private L. Starcevich was a member of 2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion during the capture of Beaufort, North Borneo. During the approach along a thickly wooded spur, the enemy was encountered at a position where movement off the single track leading into the enemy defences was difficult and hazardous. When the leading section came under fire from two enemy machine-gun posts and suffered casualties, Private Starcevich, who was a Bren gunner, moved forward and assaulted each post in turn. He rushed each post firing his Bren gun from the hip, killed five enemy and put the remaining occupants of the posts to flight. The advance progressed until the section came under fire from two machine gun posts which halted the section temporarily. Private Starcevich again advanced fearlessly, firing his Bren gun from the hip and ignoring the hostile fire, captured both posts single handed, disposing of seven enemy.
  • These daring efforts enabled the Company to increase the momentum of its attack and so relieve pressure on another Company which was attacking from another direction. The outstanding gallantry of Private Starcevich in carrying out these attacks single handed with complete disregard of his own personal safety resulted in the decisive success of the action.
abstract
  • Leslie Thomas "Tom" Starcevich VC (5 September 1918 – 17 November 1989), was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of Commonwealth armed forces. He received the award as member of the Australian Army's 9th Division, during the Borneo campaign of World War II.