Victoria Cross winner with links to Goldfields to sell medal at auction to raise funds for family

The Victoria Cross Cpl Daniel Keighran won for “conspicuous gallantry” during a battle in Afghanistan will go up for auction in Sydney later this month as the war hero raises funds for his family.

Cpl Keighran had been working at the Frog’s Leg underground mine 20km west of Kalgoorlie-Boulder for four months as a truck driver and shot firer when then-Governor-General Quentin Bryce pinned Australia’s highest award for bravery in war on his chest in November 2012.

The Queenslander had a year earlier crossed the Nullarbor to work in the WA mining industry after leaving the army.

He had been a member of the Brisbane-based 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and had also served in Timor-Leste and Iraq.

While in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, he also joined the city’s Army Reserves unit.

Cpl Keighran received the VC for his actions on August 24, 2010 when a group of 20 Australians was tasked with patrolling the village of Derapet in Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province with a team of 20 Afghan National Army soldiers.

What took place on that day is called the Battle of Derapet, with the Australian-Afghan forces confronting about 100 Taliban fighters.

In its website entry on Cpl Keighran, the Australian War Memorial said the patrol came under sustained attack by the “strong force”.

“The enemy fire, which came from different locations, was accurate and deadly,” the AWM said.

“Corporal Keighran deliberately and repeatedly exposed himself in order to direct suppressing fire.

“From high points, he identified targets for machine-gunners and light armoured vehicles.

“He also drew attention away from a mortally wounded comrade (Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney) and, while under fire, set about clearing a landing zone for his evacuation.

“Throughout the long action, his bravery assisted the patrol to return accurate fire and to successfully withdraw without further casualties.”

Cpl Keighran left the Goldfields in 2015, returning to Brisbane, where he still lives.

Now the VC and 11 of his other medals are up for auction at Noble Numismatics Sale 137, taking place from November 25-29 at the Dixson Room of the State Library in Macquarie Street, Sydney.

The Sydney Morning Herald last month reported the set of medals could make $1.25 million.

The Herald reported Mr Keighran was selling the medals to help his family.

“It hasn’t been a decision made lightly, my partner and I had a discussion,” he said.

“There’s a few family members whose health wasn’t amazing.

“I am fortunate in that I earn a pretty good wage, but things are pretty tough out there.

“The reason for getting rid of the medal is to look after my own family.

“It would afford the opportunity for schooling and for a place for us to live as a family as well.”