The Top Ender Magazine August September 2023 Edition

KEITH
PAYNE VC
Image: Keith Payne VC. Supplied by the Payne Family.
Images: Top: Vietnam Veterans Day - Darwin 2022.
Bottom: Keith with Nova Peris and Bob Shewring.
Supplied by the Payne Family and Bob Shewring.
In celebration of his 90th
birthday on 30 August 2023, we
are grateful to have the
opportunity to speak with Keith
Payne VC about his military
career and life after Army.
Twenty-seven years ago, Keith
and his loving wife Flo made the
sea change to live in Mackay and
it's been ‘a ball of a time’! With regular travel around
Australia and visits to Norfolk Island, Keith has
enjoyed catching up with old mates and spending
time with his family.
WHAT WAS YOUR JOURNEY INTO THE
MILITARY?
My earliest job was cutting sugar cane as a 14 year old and
then my mother found me an apprenticeship at a furniture
factory. Due to the Manpower Act 1946, I had to leave
school at the age of 14, and I was allowed to do Regimental
Cadets from the age of 15. When I was 17, I trained
alongside the Citizen Military Forces because all of the ARA
units were full to capacity in QLD with men volunteering for
action. Keith was posted to 1RAR and 2RAR before fighting
in Korea between 1952-1953 and then Malaya. Promoted to
Warrant Officer Class II in 1965, Keith was posted to Pacific
Islands Regiment (2nd Battalion) between 1967-1968, then
in 1969, Keith was posted to Australian Army Training Team
Vietnam (AATTV).
In September 1969, it was gazetted that Keith Payne would
receive an Imperial Victoria Cross due to his selfless bravery
and leadership during the Vietnam War. Queen Elizabeth II
presented the VC in Brisbane in April 1970 and Keith
received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2006
(upgraded to Member of the Order of Australia in 2015), as
well as a number of other medals and awards received
throughout his life. Flo Payne also received an OAM in 2011.
Keith retired from the Australian Army in 1975.
WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE
RECEIVED?
I have always been willing to learn and truly listen to other
people, which has helped me to collect lots of thoughts and
helpful advice in private conversations. I also learned so
much in the military, especially from my Company
Commander in Korea.
I became a close friend of Cutler (Sir Roden Cutler VC) and
our wives were friends. He was my mentor, and his wife was
my wife’s mentor – they were wonderful people.
WHAT IS YOUR FUNNIEST
MEMORY FROM THE MILITARY?
There were so many moments of laughter
and camaraderie throughout my military
career, but one memory that I think about
often is about an air mattress that I used to
carry everywhere. We used it for sleeping,
shelter and river crossings – it was such a
handy thing! I asked one of my lads to inflate
it while we were in Vietnam and once
inflated, he leaned it against a tree. After
days of heavy fire fights, all sorts of weather
and running around trying to survive, we
found the air mattress still propped up
against the tree like nothing had happened!
For a weary group of soldiers, this seemed
like the funniest thing we had ever seen and
it still makes me laugh to this day.
WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE
PLACE TO VISIT?
Norfolk Island – it’s a favourite spot of mine.
There’s so many nice people and it’s a
peaceful island, with damn nice fishing! We
have very close friends on Norfolk and sadly
over the years, I have lost a number of
friends. I recently traveled there for the 50th
anniversary of Vietnam Memorial Day and it
was good to catch up with lots of friends - I
always make an effort to visit people while
I’m there.
WHAT LIFE SKILLS DID YOU
LEARN IN THE MILITARY?
We did a lot of work with Commandos and
SAS, so we went through a lot of extra
training for specialist skills, including diving
and parachuting. I also learned a lot about
life in the jungle and the challenges of that
environment.
And giving orders to people – I still use
that daily [laughs]!
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU GIVE TO
OTHER VETERANS?
If you’re having a big problem and your life
feels a bit ‘off track’, reach out for help. At
this time, there are some delays in accessing
support and veterans need to help other
veterans as much as they can. Also, get to
know your advocates and discuss your
options.
We sincerely thank Keith Payne VC and Col
Payne for assisting with our interview.
Interviewed by Deb Herring
Community Contributor
The Top Ender Magazine
Former Australian Army soldier Mr Keith Payne, VC, AM, who was awarded his
Victoria Cross by Queen Elizabeth II onboard HMY Brittania in Brisbane on 13
April 1970, after being nominated for his actions as part of an Australian Army
Training Team—Vietnam mission in May 1969 during the Vietnam War.
Commonwealth of Australia © Defence.gov.au
6 The Top Ender | Tri-Services Magazine Incorporated AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023 7