Losing a son never becomes easier but it does become manageable, Kaye Baird, the mother of posthumous VC recipient Corporal Cameron Baird, believes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mrs Baird and her husband Doug travelled to Canberra from the Gold Coast on Wednesday for the unveiling of a display at the Australian War Memorial of the items of kit worn and used by Corporal Baird during the action that claimed his life on June 22, 2013.
The display includes the well-worn M4 carbine he used during the fierce battle in which he lead his troops into the heart of an enemy compound three times.
While the compound was taken by 2nd Commando Regiment forces on their third attempt, the final push cost Corporal Baird his life.
"There isn't a day goes by we don't think of Cameron," Mrs Baird said. "We are extremely proud of his dedication to what he did; he believed in what he did and we hope to carry on the legacy [and] do what we think he would want us to do."
Part of that legacy is encouraging young people to study hard and to be the best they can be.
"He felt that at school he did as much as he needed to do," Mr Baird said. "He often said to us he wanted to go back at some stage to primary, and particularly the secondary schools, to talk to the students and to tell them to make sure they got the best education they could to see them through, but also to be good people."
Mrs Baird said the last characteristic, which was her favourite memory of her youngest son, was most important.
"Regardless of the VC, regardless of the dedication in the army, he was a good person. Nobody's perfect in this life we know but we felt very blessed that he was such a good person. We've never heard anybody say a bad word about him."
While Corporal Baird may have regretted not studying harder in school, his achievements after joining the army were remarkable.
Before being awarded the Victoria Cross, he had been awarded the Medal for Gallantry for an action in Afghanistan in 2007 when, while his unit was under heavy fire, he led other commandos forward to recover a mortally wounded unit member.
The new display in the Hall of Valour features Corporal Baird's Victoria Cross, his Medal for Gallantry, his rifle and grenade launcher, body armour, helmet and boots.
Corporal Baird, who was the fourth soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, was the 100th Australian VC recipient since the medal was inaugurated by Queen Victoria during the Crimean War in 1856.
