Australian Victoria Cross ‘Passed’ at Auction – 26 Nov 2024

A medal group including the Victoria Cross for Australia belonging to Corporal Daniel Keighran was ‘passed’ during a recent auction in Sydney. The Afghanistan campaign gallantry group, the first ever awarded to the Royal Australian Regiment and the first to a non-Special Forces recipient went to auction on 26 November 2024 with an estimate of Au$1.25 million, however it failed to reach the reserve price.

The anticipated sale of the medals had attracted widespread media coverage in Australia, with some of the tabloid media framing the story as the government failing in their support for veterans. Keighran, who left the regular army in 2011 to work in the lucrative mining sector in Kalgoorlie before relocating back to Queensland in 2015 and taking up an executive role in the Defence Industry, said in the decision was to give additional financial support to his family.

“It hasn’t been a decision made lightly, my partner and I had a discussion,” he said.

“There’s a few family members whose health wasn’t amazing. I am fortunate in that I earn a pretty good wage, but things are pretty tough out there (and) the reason for getting rid of the medal is to look after my own family. It would afford the opportunity for schooling and for a place for us to live as a family as well.”

The group was listed with Sydney auction house Noble Numismatics and described as

VC Group of Ten and Two Singles: Group of Ten: Victoria Cross for Australia; Australian Active Service Medal 1975-, – two clasps – ICAT, Iraq 2003; Afghanistan Medal 2004; Iraq Medal 2004; Australian Service Medal 1975, – clasp – East Timor; Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012; Defence Long Service Medal; Australian Defence Medal; United Nations Medal (UNMISET); NATO Service Medal, – clasp – ISAF; Singles: Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal 2022; King Charles III Coronation Medal 2024. 8214572 Cpl D.A. Keighran, RAR chisel engraved on back of suspension bar and 24th August 2010 chisel engraved on the central circle on the reverse of first medal, 8214572 D A Keighran on second to fifth and seventh and eighth medals, the sixth, ninth and tenth medals unnamed as issued, also the two loose single medals unnamed as issued. Apart from the first medal, all named medals pantographed. Ten of the medals are court mounted and the last two medals with pin-back suspension are loose, overall nearly uncirculated.

Together with cases for all medals and the mounted group including a case by Hancocks for the Victoria Cross for Australia; also some suspension clasps and a miniature for the Defence Long Service Medal and some spare ribbons for the Defence Long Service Medal as well as a pin-back riband.

Also entitled to Meritorious Unit Citation with Federation Star awarded to Mentoring Task Force One in 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours; Meritorious Unit Citation with Federation Star awarded to Task Force 66 in the 2015 Australia Day Honours; Infantry Combat Badge.

Corporal Daniel Alan Keighran deployed to Afghanistan in February 2010 with the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. On 24 August 2010, he participated in a partnered fighting patrol alongside soldiers from the Afghan National Army’s 1st Kandak, 4th Brigade, 205th (Hero) Corps. The patrol came under attack from a numerically superior and coordinated enemy force, firing from multiple positions across three separate locations. The assault began with a high volume of sustained and accurate machine-gun and small-arms fire, which pinned down the combined Australian and Afghan forces, halting their progress.

Early in the engagement, Corporal Keighran recognized the forward elements of the patrol required effective fire support. Under heavy enemy fire, he and another patrol member moved to an exposed ridgeline to identify enemy positions and direct the return fire of both Australian and Afghan machine guns. From this position, and with complete disregard for his own safety, Corporal Keighran deliberately drew enemy fire by moving beyond the limited cover available. This enabled him to pinpoint enemy targets for the combined patrol’s machine gunners.

As the battle intensified, Corporal Keighran continued to lead and mentor his team, moving around the ridgeline to direct fire more effectively and reposition the Australian and Afghan machine gunners to superior vantage points. At one point, he returned to the ridgeline’s crest under persistent enemy fire to identify targets and adjust the fire of Australian Light Armoured Vehicles. His actions suppressed enemy firing points, helping to shift the momentum in favour of the combined patrol.

Relocating to another position, Corporal Keighran again deliberately exposed himself to heavy enemy fire to assist in identifying targets and marking the forward line of troops for fire support elements, all while engaging the enemy directly. When he identified a position that offered better command and control for the patrol’s joint fire controller, Corporal Keighran traversed over 100 meters of exposed ridgeline, drawing intense enemy fire, to relocate the controller. He then repeatedly left cover, exposing himself to heavy fire on four occasions, to identify additional enemy positions, which were subsequently neutralized by fire support.

During the engagement, an Australian soldier was wounded. Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own safety, Corporal Keighran left cover to deliberately draw enemy fire away from those treating the casualty. While under intense fire, he directed suppressing fire and assisted in clearing a landing zone to enable the casualty’s evacuation.

Corporal Keighran’s acts of conspicuous gallantry—repeatedly exposing himself to accurate and intense enemy fire—placed him in grave danger but ultimately enabled the identification and suppression of enemy firing positions. His exceptional courage in the face of great peril was instrumental in the successful withdrawal of the combined Australian and Afghan patrol without further casualties.

To learn more about Daniel Keighran’s life and story buy track down his book, Courage Under Fire and listen to him speak of his experiences on the Life On The Line Podcast.