Photos Aussies and Kiwi's in Vietnam

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968-09-02. Sergeant Brian Rudduck of Holsworthy, NSW (left), a member of the 131st Divisional Locating Battery, explains the intricacies of an enemy aiming device which was captured by Australian troops, to Lieutenant Colonel Ray Brown of Launceston, Tas, Commanding Officer of the Citizen Military Forces (CMF) 6th Field Regiment in Tasmania.

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968-08-31. Signalman Paddy Wilson of Ingelwood, Qld, speaks with his cousin, vocalist Merriel Hume of Brisbane, Qld, at the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) Base. Miss Hume was a member of the eleven Australian Government sponsored concert party which entertained Australian troops in Vietnam. They enjoyed a can of drink together at a luncheon provided by the 104th Signals Squadron.

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968-08-31. Private Rob Wells of Collie, WA, takes a photograph of vocalist Anne Doyle, a member of the eleven Australian Government sponsored concert party, with Signalman Basil Williams of Kewdale, WA (left), and Lance Corporal Stan Montefiore of Penrith, WA, after the concert party at the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) Base. The group was attending a luncheon given for the entertainers by the 104th Signals Squadron.

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968-09. A service is completed on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) by members of A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Light Aid Detachment (LAD), and Corporal Don Omond of Frankston, Vic, adds a finishing touch to the carrier's nickname, `Dennis the Bluddy Menace'. The 42 carriers of the squadron covered more than 62,000 miles on operations in Vietnam over the last six months.

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968-09. Corporal Brian Wicks of Orange, NSW, repairs a gunshield of an armoured personnel carrier (APC) of A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment. Corporal Wicks is a member of the squadron's Light Aid Detachment (LAD). Over the last six months, the squadron's carriers have covered more than 62,000 miles on operations in Vietnam.

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968-10. Artillery surveyor, Gunner David Dougherty of Cronulla, NSW, a member of the 131st Divisional Locating Battery, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), uses a theodolite at the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) Base. He is the son of Major General Sir Ivan Dougherty, Director General of Civil Defence, NSW.

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968-10. Corporal John Cameron of Padstow, NSW (left), and Craftsman Bruno Kwas of Cairns, Qld, check the condition of the mast head below the rotor of a Sioux helicopter number 397. Both men are airframe fitters with the 161st Independent Reconnaissance Flight which operates both Sioux helicopters and Cessna light aircraft in reconnaissance duties for land operations.

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968-10. Corporal Phil Baker of Ipswich, Qld, tightens the lock wire of the tail rotor gearbox on a Sioux helicopter at the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) Base. He is an engine fitter with the 161st Independent Reconnaissance Flight which operates Sioux helicopters and Cessna light aircraft in reconnaissance duties for land operations.

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1968-11. Private (Pte) Brian Hamilton of Epping, NSW, a member of B Company, 9th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (9RAR), posts his first letter from Vietnam to his family at home in Australia. Pte Hamilton is one of the 150 man advance party. 9RAR is relieving the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), which will arrive in Australia for Christmas after a twelve month tour.

 

[guest0001]

Commanding Officer of the 9th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (9RAR), Lieutenant Colonel A. L. Morrison (left), and Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), Lieutenant Colonel J. J. Shelton, enjoy a drink before 3RAR left for Australia. The advance party of 150 from 9RAR had settled at Nui Dat and had prepared the way for the remainder of the battalion. 3RAR was due to return to Australia for Christmas.

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1967-10. Performers Patti McGrath (left) and Denise Drysdale chat with troops from the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) during a barbecue lunch at the base. At left is drummer Garth Thompson of The Strangers group. The three performers were part of a concert party which toured all Australian bases entertaining the troops. (Black and white version held as CAM/67/0183/VN)

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1967-10. Lance Bombardier Bruce Irvine of Coffs Harbour, NSW, with television personality Patti McGrath at a barbecue lunch at the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) base. Patti and fellow Melbourne entertainers Denise Drysdale and The Strangers were part of a Government sponsored concert party which toured all Australian bases entertaining the troops. (Black and white version held as CAM/67/0892/VN)

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, Vietnam. 1967-10. Gunner Yarema Troynar of Noble Park, Vic, speaking with television personality Patti McGrath at the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) base. Patti and fellow Melbourne entertainers Denise Drysdale and The Strangers were part of a Government sponsored concert party which toured all Australian bases entertaining the troops. (Black and white version held as CAM/67/0893/VN)

 

[guest0001]

Ngai Giao, South Vietnam. October 1968. The ribbon is cut to officially open the market place, about six miles north of the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) at Nui Dat. The market place, worth $9,000, together with a water supply, were provided for the village by the Australian Government's civil aid programme.

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, South Vietnam. c. 18 August 1969. A line of soldiers of 6RAR /NZ (ANZAC) (The ANZAC Battalion comprising 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and a component from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment), wait for an Iroquois helicopter to move them back to Long Tan to set up a memorial cross and a commemorative service at the battle site.

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, South Vietnam. c. 18 August 1969. A line of soldiers of 6RAR /NZ (ANZAC) (The ANZAC Battalion comprising 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and a component from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment), wait for an Iroquois helicopter to move them back to Long Tan to set up a memorial cross and a commemorative service at the battle site.

 

[guest0001]

Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. November 1969. Men of 8th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (8RAR) en route to Nui Dat from Vung Tau where they were landed from the troop carrier HMAS Sydney. The soldiers travelled by road in open trucks, weapons at the ready.

 

[guest0001]

Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. November 1969. Men of 8th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (8RAR) en route to Nui Dat from Vung Tau where they were landed from the troop carrier HMAS Sydney. The soldiers travelled by road in open trucks, weapons at the ready.

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, South Vietnam. January 1970. Vocalist Julie Lewis, on stage, sings to Australian troops at Luscombe Bowl at the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) Base. Julie was one of two female entertainers in the Army and Australian Forces Overseas Fund sponsored concert party which visited the war zone over Christmas and New year. The ABC Dance Band provided the music and the concert party played to capacity audiences wherever it went.

 

[guest0001]

Nui Dat, South Vietnam. September 1969. Australian entertainer, Lorrae Desmond, sings to an enthusiastic crowd of 1200 soldiers at the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) Base. Lorrae Desmond was the star of a South Australian concert party sponsored by the Australian Forces Overseas Fund which visited most Australian units during its tour. The ninety minute show continued through a monsoonal downpour, but the soldiers stayed to the end to cheer Lorrae for four encores.