Daniel Keighran VC

Daniel Alan Keighran was born on June 18, 1983, in Nambour, Queensland, Australia. His early life involved moving with his family to Lowmead, where they bred paint horses, and he attended school in nearby Rosedale, graduating in 2000. In the same year, Keighran was a torchbearer for the 2000 Summer Olympics and received a Pierre de Coubertin Award for his ‘Olympic spirit.’ He enlisted in the Australian Army in 2000 at the age of 17, marking the beginning of a dedicated military career that would see him serve for 11 years.

Prior to his notable service in Afghanistan, Keighran gained significant operational experience in East Timor and Iraq. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in 2005 while serving with the Mortar Platoon of the Support Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR). In 2006, he deployed to Iraq as a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle driver, followed by a deployment to Afghanistan in 2007 with the Special Operations Task Group in the same role. His steady career progression continued with a promotion to Corporal in 2009, after which he was posted to D Company, 6 RAR.

On August 24, 2010, during the Battle of Derapet in Afghanistan, Corporal Keighran displayed extraordinary courage. He repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire, drawing attention away from a mortally wounded comrade, Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney, and directing suppressing fire against a strong insurgent force. His actions allowed the patrol to return accurate fire and successfully withdraw without further casualties. For his conspicuous gallantry, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, presented on November 1, 2012, making him the third soldier to receive this honor and the first member of the Royal Australian Regiment to do so.