The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
The triggering of five successful ambushes in four days all in an area of 500 yards has led Australian troops of Delta Company, 7th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment on current Operation Coburg in Vietnam, to call a dusty track in thick undergrowth The Golden Mile. Five Viet Cong members were killed in this ambush - but one preferred to surrender, and as he emerged from a jungle hideout he was kept covered by wary Australians. Operating with other elements of the 1st Australian Task Force in Bien Hoa Province, 20 miles north east of Saigon, the troops thoroughly searched the ambushed area after each contact. In the interests of security, enemy soldiers are bound and searched as soon as they are captured. Valuable documents are often recovered from enemy soldiers who surrender and Delta Company was rewarded with equipment, weapons and documents during their sweep through the Golden Mile. Viet Cong prisoners are well treated, receiving food, cigarettes and if necessary, medical attention. The Australian Task Force, commanded by Brigadier Ron Hughes, of Stafford, Queensland, is directing his troops from a forward tactical headquarters in Bien Hoa. Delta Company, which is taking part in this series of ambushes, is led by Major Don Paterson of Melbourne. After one ambush, an apparently dead Viet Cong was found only to be slightly wounded. He quickly surrendered, and after being secured was searched for documents. Operation Coburg was mounted in response to a pre Lunar New Year ceasefire massing of Viet Cong units against targets in Bien Hoa Province, and has been continuing since January 25. A stretcher bearer attended an Australian soldier slightly wounded by shrapnel in this ambush and then a stock take was held of captured enemy equipment. This included ammunition, mortar bombs, weapons, explosives and other items. Platoon Commander, Lieutenant Ross Ellis, of Southport, Queensland, then held a quick briefing with some of his men, before the company continued their sweep through the area.
Intensive patrolling through thick jungle growth by the 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, on current Operation Coburg in Vietnam, has uncovered numerous Viet Cong camps in Bien Hoa Provinc
Newly arrived troops of 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, from Puckapunyal, Victoria, completed search and destroy Operation Lismore this week in which they made their first contact with Viet
Black rectangular pouch made from waterproof synthetic with provision for a drawstring (missing). Medical pouch captured by members of A Company, 2 Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) on 3 February 1968
Immediately following the new year truce period in Vietnam, Bravo Company, 5 Battalion RAR, troops moved out in armoured personnel carriers into Viet Cong held jungle area to pre-selected ambush posit
Operation Darwin, the second search and destroy operation in Viet Nam for troops of the Second Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, resulted in three enemy bunkers being destroyed and an old base cam
Brown leather scabbard to hold a knife approximately 160mm long and 35mm wide. Stitched to the scabbard is a split leather loop to allow it to be carried on a belt. A plain leather band stitched to th
