Base renamed in honour of Victoria Cross recipient

The Australian domestic compound at Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates is now officially known as Camp Baird, in memory of Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG.

Corporal Baird VC MG was killed in action in Uruzgan province on 22 June 2013, while serving as part of the Special Operations Task Group.

On the day of Corporal Baird’s posthumous investiture as Australia’s 100th recipient of the Victoria Cross, Commander of Joint Task Force 633, Major General Craig Orme made the announcement to Australian personnel who had gathered to pay tribute to the 2nd Commando Regiment soldier.

“As an enduring legacy to Corporal Baird’s valour, I’m announcing that the Australian domestic compound here at Al Minhad Air Base will in future be known and remembered as Camp Baird – in recognition of a great soldier and a great warrior,” he said.

“This is a special tribute to a member of Joint Task Force 633 who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

The small service also saw a reading of Corporal Baird’s Victoria Cross citation detailing his courageous actions under enemy fire as a commando team commander during a helicopter assault into Ghawchak Village in the Khod Valley.

“The Victoria Cross is Australia’s highest honour and only awarded to those who display the most conspicuous gallantry and daring in the face of the enemy. In the history of our nation only 99 other Australians have received the Victoria Cross, Corporal Baird is the 100th,” Major General Orme said.

The Victoria Cross for Australia was conferred on Corporal Baird’s parents, Doug and Kaye, and brother, Brendan, during a ceremony at Government House in Canberra on 18 February 2014.

Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG is the 40th Australian soldier to be killed on active service in Afghanistan.