THE mum and dad of Victoria Cross recipient Cameron Baird reckon their son would be “embarrassed” and “humbled” at being extolled in Albury.
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Kaye and Doug Baird visited the Albert Borella VC Memorial at the Peards complex on Wednesday.
The monument, the idea of Peards’ owner George Benyon, lists all Australians to be given the nation’s highest military bravery honour.
Corporal Cameron Baird received a posthumous VC in February 2014 after being killed in a firefight with rebels in the Afghan province of Uruzgan on June 22, 2013.
The commando is the newest and 100th recipient.
After seeing their son’s name printed on the memorial, the Bairds imagined their boy’s reaction.
“Cameron probably would have been a little embarrassed about the whole thing, but he would be ecstatic at how it’s recognition for his team, the 2nd Commando Regiment,” Mrs Baird said.
Mr Baird said: “I think probably, like us, he would be extremely humbled at the work that has been done here by the Benyon family.
“It’s outstanding, it goes to show the respect shown by the family and the general public.”
The Bairds have flown south from their Gold Coast home at the behest of the Border’s Eddie Robertson, an ex-commando who was a close mate of Corporal Baird and served alongside him.
“He was very adept at his job, highly professional and a really good leader,” Mr Robertson said.
“I was not surprised at all (at the VC), it was his style to lead from the front.”
Corporal Baird anticipated being drafted into the AFL before entering the army.
A shoulder injury halted his football career and initially saw him rejected from the military before he appealed the snub.
On Thursday, the Bairds will attend the Hume Veterans’ Information Centre and a dinner honouring their son at the Wangaratta RSL.
They will speak to soldiers and officers at the Bandiana army base on Friday.
Corporal Baird’s unit was the most highly decorated in Afghanistan but it also suffered the most losses and mental health trauma.
In reply a charity, Cam’s Cause, was formed to honour Corporal Baird and aid commandos in need.
It sells $195 statuettes of Corporal Baird in a pose seen in a life-size sculpture at a Gold Coast RSL.
