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Robert Murray Kavanaugh, George Cross
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The George Cross was instituted in September 1940 to recognise civilian
heroism. King George VI created the award for the men and women of the
Commonwealth whose courage could not be marked by any other honour. The
silver cross, bearing an image of St George slaying the dragon and the
words "FOR GALLANTRY", was designed by Percy Metcalfe and is struck at
the Royal Mint.
| Unit /Occupation : |
Civilian, Dental Student (later Royal
Australian Air Force, No. 261881) |
| Date / Place of Birth : |
18th December 1906, Wingham, New South
Wales, Australia |
| Family : |
Husband of Mrs Mary Kavanaugh. Father
of Pat, Lynette, Shane and Michael |
| Date / Place of GC Action : |
12th January 1929, Bondi Beach,
Sydney, NSW, Australia |
| Gazetted : |
The London Gazette: 16th October 1930 |
| Account of Deed: |
On the evening of 12th January 1929, a
boy of 14, Colin Stewart, was bathing at Bondi Beach, New South
Wales, some 50 yards from the shore when he was attacked by a shark
and was seriously injured on his right side and hip. Mr. Kavanaugh
of Darlinghurst, New South Wales, who was bathing a few yards from
the boy, without hesitation swam to his aid and had almost reached
him when the shark made a second attack on the boy. Undeterred by
the danger to himself, Mr. Kavanaugh caught hold of the injured lad
and struggled with him towards the shore. He had gone a considerable
distance when he was met by two other men and together they carried
the boy to the beach where he was given medical attention before
being taken to hospital, where he died the next morning. |
| Additional Information: |
Served with the Royal Australian Air
Force in WWII as a Dental Officer. Kavanaugh was discharged from the
RAAF on 9th June 1945 with the rank of Squadron Leader. His final
posting was at the RAAF Station, Bradfield Park. See his entry in
Oakes, Gerard, 'Robert Murray Kavanaugh (1906-1976), Dentist', in
John Ritchie (ed), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 14,
Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1996, pp. 600-601 |
| Date / Place of Death: |
12th September 1976 in Glebe, Sydney,
New South Wales |
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Reproduced by kind permission of
The George Cross
Database If you are related to Robert or know something about him,
then please contact the GC database. With special thanks to Marion
Hebblethwaite. |
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