Keith Payne VC honoured

Keith Payne, the craggy former warrant officer awarded the Victoria Cross for breathtaking bravery in Vietnam, is to be awarded another gong.

He's being appointed a member of the Order of Australia in this year's Queen's Birthday honours list for his support for other veterans.

As elder statesman of Australia's VC recipients, he's been guiding the brave young men of a later war.

The citation recognises his longtime support of veterans' welfare, particularly as an advocate of those suffering post-traumatic stress disorder.

He's also served as a mentor to the three recipients of the Victoria Cross for Australia from the Afghanistan conflict.

Mr Payne was awarded the last of four VCs from the Vietnam war for heroism during an extended battle with North Vietnamese troops in May 1969.

He's the last living Australian recipient of the original imperial VC, awarded under the UK honours system.