Australian soldier Bill Madden posthumously awarded George Cross for Korean War captivity
The gist
Australian private Bill Madden was posthumously awarded the George Cross for resisting captors as a Korean War prisoner.
It was the highest decoration awarded to an Australian in that war.
How it unfolded
- Feb 14, 1924Horace William Madden was born in Cronulla, New South Wales, Australia.
- 1942 –1947Madden served in the Australian Army, including the New Guinea and Bougainville campaigns in the latter stages of World War II and the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan, then returned to civilian life in 1947.
- 1950Madden enlisted for service in the Korean War.
Key terms
- George Cross
- The highest British award for non-operational gallantry or courage not in the presence of an enemy, equal to the Victoria Cross.
- posthumously
- Granted after the recipient has died.
- Battle of Kapyong
- A Korean War engagement in April 1951 between UN forces, mainly Australian and Canadian, and Chinese People's Volunteer Army divisions.
Source: Wikipedia