009 See the largest public collection of VC medals

The Australian War Memorial houses the largest public collection of Victoria Cross medals in the world, of the 60 there, 58 of the medals were awarded to Australians.

It’s evidence of our pride as a nation. Containing the largest public collection of Victoria Cross medals in the world, the Australian War Memorial has been lucky to have received 60 via donation or on permanent loan, 58 of which were awarded to Australians (the remaining two were Brits who later emigrated to here).

The most famous donations have come from media magnate Kerry Stokes, who bought two collections to ensure they were kept in public hands. The medals are housed in the Hall of Valour, fittingly in the heart of the memorial.

Each of the medallists has their own story and extract from the citation used to award the cross. However, many of the stories are so much greater than the 100-word description that it’s best to have a guide with you when you go.

Where // Australian War Memorial, Campbell, ACT. www.awm.gov.au

Did you know? // The single largest private collection of Victoria Crosses is Lord Ashcroft’s in the UK at 130 medals. The Imperial War Museum in London has a mere 40.