Six Australians were killed during the Battle of Suoi Chau Pha which took place on the 6th of August 1967 during the Vietnam War. The battle, which was part of Operation BALLARAT, is one of the defining battles of 7RAR’s history.
At 1000 on 6 August, A company 7RAR crossed the Suoi Chau Pha River in the eastern Hat Dich area, north-west of Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy province. After crossing the river and laying a successful quick ambush, 2 Platoon came under concentrated machine gun, rifle and RPG fire from what was later revealed to be a reinforced company from the Vietcong 3rd Battalion, 274th Regiment.
The Platoon suffered immediate casualties in the opening engagement, losing two section commanders and nine more wounded. Using fire and movement, the platoon closed with the enemy killing an enemy platoon commander and machine gunner whose bodies were recovered.
The battle progressed with neither side able to gain a distinct advantage at close quarters and in dense jungle amid a heavy monsoon rain, with casualties mounting on both sides. 2 Platoon was reinforced by the remainder of A Company, but were unable to overcome the greater firepower provided by the Vietcong’s seven machineguns and RPGs. At times, with only 30m separating the two forces, the fighting was brutal and intense.
As the Vietcong attacks intensified and threatened to overrun the forward Australian positions, the Australians began calling in artillery from Fire Support Base Giraffe at the 105mm howitzer’s maximum range, causing heavy casualties. In total, over 1,026 artillery rounds were fired during the fighting, along with a number of airstrikes. The Australian and American artillery proved to be decisive in defeating the Vietcong attack.
After a battle lasting several hours, the Vietcong were forced to withdraw, dragging many of their dead from the battlefield after having suffered crippling losses. The battle cost 7RAR five soldiers dead and 21 wounded, one of whom died from his wounds. The enemy casualties were much more severe, caused in the main by artillery fire.
To this day, on 6 August each year, 7RAR commemorates ‘Suoi Chau Pha Day.’
Today, we pause to remember the heroism of all the men involved in the battle that day, but also pay our respects to Corporals Donald Aylett and James Hayes, and Privates Edward Brophy, Barleif Harstad, David Milford, and John O’Connor who made the ultimate sacrifice whilst serving in Vietnam.
You can find portraits of the individuals here:
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Lest we forget.
Carrying A Company's casualties from the Battle of Suoi Chau Pha from the Dustoff helicopter into 8 Field Company Ambulance. Identified, left to right: Dr Jack Bromley, 8th Field Ambulance, holding the plasma bottle, the crewman at the foot of the stretcher is Kerin Charles Williams, 9th Squadron, RAAF, medic Albertus Leonardus (Bert) Kuijpers, 8th Field Ambulance (long trousers, no shirt), and 7RAR medic Trevor Owen Skinner (shorts, no shirt). The name of the casualty on the stretcher is unknown.
