Photos Aussies and Kiwi's in Vietnam

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NUI DAT, SOUTH VIETNAM. 1969-12. ROYAL CORPS OF AUSTRALIAN ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS (RAEME) TECHNICIANS ARE THE MEN WHO KEEP THE MACHINES AND WEAPONS OF THE 1ST AUSTRALIAN TASK FORCE IN OPERATION. SERGEANT JOHN SZYMANSKI OF WOODVILLE, SA, REPLACES THE GUN SIGHTS OF A 105MM HOWITZER FOR THE 1ST FIELD REGIMENT, THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY, AT THE UNIT'S RAEME LIGHT AID DETACHMENT WORKSHOPS WHILE GUN SERGEANT RAY HARTIGAN OF KEPERRA, QLD, LOOKS ON.

 

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Sep 1970. Soldiers of 1st Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers (RAE), make final adjustments to a mine roller. The tank, an American M48, and the rollers are on extended loan to the sappers from the US Army. When the device has been fully tested at Nui Dat, it will be put into operations in Phuoc Tuy Province to clear roads and tracks possibly mined by the Viet Cong (VC). Pictured left to right are: Sapper Terry McAllister, 21, of Glebe, NSW; Sapper Martin McCarthy, 25, of Wellington, New Zealand; Sapper John Smith, 23, of Quilpie, Qld; Corporal Eric True, 40, of Swanborne, WA; and an American Scientific advisor, Mr Vernon Urie.

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. April 1971. Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Sir Thomas Daly (right), paid a farewell visit to soldiers at the 1st Australian Task Force Base (1ATF) in Nui Dat. Lt Gen Daly moved among the troops and is seen talking with Private Barry Spry of South Plympton, SA, a member of 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR).

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. April 1971. Sergeant (Sgt) Rick Hamilton of Penrith, NSW, a member of 198 Works Section, Royal Australian Engineers (RAE), based at the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) in Nui Dat, is a keen rugby league supporter (Panthers). He is seen here with toy bears, each representing a team in the Sydney competition, and two bottles of champagne for when Penrith wins the premiership. After each competition round, Sgt Hamilton arranges the bears in order, like in the conventional ladder.

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. July 1971. Not a hobby for everyone according to Sergeant Terry Jobson of Townsville, Qld (left), as these snakes started making a run for it from the expert hands of Private (Pte) Bob Bredl of Renmark, SA. When not on duty as a cook with the 12th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), the snakes have become Pte Bredl's chief interest at the 1st Australian Task Force Base (1ATF) at Nui Dat. He caught his present collection of six around the base.

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. July 1971. Gunner Brian Markwic, 22, of Tea Tree Gully, SA (right), Regimental Policeman with the 12th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), looks on while Private (Pte) Bob Bredl of Renmark, SA, plays with his personal collection of snakes. When not on duty as a cook with the 12th Field Regiment, (RAA), the snakes have become Pte Bredl's chief interest at the 1st Australian Task Force Base (1ATF) at Nui Dat. He caught his present collection of six around the base.

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. November 1971. Private Peter Edwards of Bega, NSW (left), and Private Ben Reynolds of Dubbo, NSW, retrieve Claymore mines, stamped `Front toward enemy', from their unit perimeter prior to their departure from the former 1st Australian Task Force Base (1ATF) at Nui Dat. Members of B Company, 4RAR /NZ (ANZAC) (The ANZAC Battalion comprising 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and a component from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment), the two soldiers were involved in the final evacuation of the area which marked the end of Australia's combat role in the war.

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. November 1971. With RAAF helicopters waiting in the background, these members of 4RAR /NZ (ANZAC) (The ANZAC Battalion comprising 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and a component from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) band pause for a nostalgic tune on their bagpipes before leaving Nui Dat behind. Piping prior to their extraction to Vung Tau are, left to right: Private (Pte) John Whittington of Hurstville, NSW; Pipe Major Warrant Officer Class 2 Doug Thoresen of Townvsille, Qld; Pte Bill Christie of Footscray, Vic, and Pte John Williams of Ashfield, NSW.

 

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NUI DAT, VIETNAM. 1967. MINISTER OF THE ARMY MR MALCOLM FRASER PATS TIBER, A TRACKER DOG WITH 7TH BATTALION, THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT (7RAR), DURING HIS VISIT TO THE TASK FORCE BASE. HE WAS ON A FIVE DAY TOUR OF AUSTRALIAN BASES TO INSPECT THE PROGRESS OF THE CIVIC ACTION PROGRAM. ON THE RIGHT IS TIBER'S HANDLER, CORPORAL CHRIS O'NEILL.

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968-03. Troops of 2RAR /NZ (ANZAC) (The ANZAC Battalion comprising 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and a component from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment), move away from US Army Chinook helicopters on their return from spending six weeks away from their Nui Dat base during Operation Pinnaroo. The troops had spent the six weeks defending Horseshoe Hill, eight miles south-east of their base.

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968-03. Troops of 2RAR /NZ (ANZAC) (The ANZAC Battalion comprising 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and a component from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment), move away from US Army Chinook helicopters on their return from spending six weeks away from their Nui Dat base during Operation Pinnaroo. The troops had spent the six weeks defending Horseshoe Hill, eight miles south-east of their base.

 

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SOUTH VIETNAM. 1968-05. A MAP MAKING PHOTO-STENCIL MACHINE IS OPERATED BY SAPPER BOB HUCKER OF KOGARAH, NSW, A MEMBER OF THE 1ST TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY TROOP BASED AT NUI DAT. THE UNIT PRODUCED ABOUT 100,000 MAPS, SKETCHES AND OVERLAYS EACH YEAR FOR USE BY THE 1ST AUSTRALIAN TASK FORCE (1ATF). THEY ARE MAINLY MAPS OF PHUOC TUY PROVINCE.

 

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Prime Minister John Grey Gorton, took a keen interest in a Sioux helicopter during his visit to the 161st Independent Reconnaissance Flight at Nui Dat. During his five hour visit to major units of the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF), the Prime Minister sat in the helicopter and operated the controls after he had met and spoken to men of the unit. Escorting Prime Minister Gorton is 235246 Captain John Leslie Coggan, who was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) later in 1968, for his achievements during his service in the Vietnam War. Prime Minister Gorton had served as a fighter pilot with the RAAF during the Second World War.

 

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South Vietnam. 1968-11-13. A Chinook helicopter approaches a heli-pad at the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) base at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy province, with a heavy load of signals communication equipment slung beneath it. Three australian air despatchers wait on the ground to guide and direct the helicopter to a pallet-type platform onto which the signals equipment will be gently lowered.

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. June 1971. Lance Bombardier Tim Triffet of New Norfolk, Tas (right) fires a 105mm Howitzer gun. He is watched by the other members of the gun crew, Gunner Peter Davison of Mooroopna, Vic (left), and Bombardier Dick Duane of Margate, Qld (back to camera). The crew is part of 104 Battery, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), at Nui Dat, Headquarters of the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF).

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. June 1971. Australian, US and Vietnamese engineers came from widespread locations to mark the annual Waterloo Dinner held by the 1st Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) at Nui Dat. Mr Le (surname) Thanh Trang (firstname), the Phuoc Tuy Province Engineer, was one of the many `Sappers' who visited the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) for the celebration. Here Mr Trang (second from right) tells a joke to, left to right: Lieutenant (Lt) Paul Flanagan of Headquarters, Australian Force Vietnam (AFV) (left); Second Lieutenant Alan Curtis, 17 Construction Squadron, and Lt Graham Webb, 30 Terminal Squadron.

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. August 1971. Havilland Sailfish yachts such as these can be found skimming across the water of a large dam within the perimeter of the 1st Australian Task Force Base (1ATF), at Nui Dat. Members of 1st Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers (RAE), formed a club and with their fleet of four sailfish participate in recreation and competitive sailing. Despite the tranquil nature of the dam, variable wind conditions fully test even experienced sailors. The club's first president is Major R. P. Kudnig.

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. September 1971. Corporal Jeff Estreich of Mullimbimby, NSW, signals the directions to be followed as he leads his infantry section out through the barbed wire perimeter of the 1st Australian Task Force Base (1ATF) at Nui Dat. Still negotiating the defensive obstacle were Private (Pte) Wayne Warren of Natone, Tas, the section's machine gunner; Pte Graham Miller of North Cottesloe, WA (partly obscured); Lance Corporal Bob Nugent of Cairns, Qld, the sections second-in-command; and 3799722 Pte Cees Mostaard of Northcote, Vic. The men were commencing a patrol with the 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit just a few days before leaving the unit and transferring to the battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR).

 

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Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 5 October 1971. Commander of the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF), Brigadier B. A. McDonald, inspects members of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), at a farewell parade for the unit at Nui Dat. The Battalion, the first major unit to leave Vietnam under the current withdrawal program, then boarded the troop carrier HMAS Sydney bound for Adelaide.

 

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Five years of tenancy by Australian troops at Nui Dat came closer to an end with the move to Vung Tau of the Headquarters of the 1st Australian Task Force and several force units. The move, by road convoy and RAAF Iroquois helicopters, was a further stage in the Australian Force withdrawal from Vietnam. Some units of the Force have remained at Nui Dat to provide close defence of the base until it is finally evacuated. Here, a Digger, astride an armoured personnel carrier, finds relief from the tropical sun under an umbrella as part of the convoy travels along Route 2 towards Vung Tau.