The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Australian soldiers, after months of living in dry dusty conditions of their base camp at Bien Hoa, and more than 25 operations against the Viet Cong in the jungles and swamps of South Viet Nam, now rest and convalesce in pleasant seaside surroundings at the foot of Cap St. Jaques, a former French resort near the mouth of the Saigon river. In rotating batches, troops of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and supporting units, are given seven days leave at the villa, which is on the edge of the picturesque Vietnamese township of Vung Tau. Each Sunday morning a Royal Australian Air Force Caribou transport flies in a holiday-bound group of 42 soldiers, and takes the preceding group back to Bien Hoa. At the end of the 20 minute flight from Bien Hoa obliging pilots make a low level run over Cap St. Jaques and its accompanying bay and township, to give the soldiers a tourist's eye view of their playground for the next week. Vehicles flown into the resort specially fo the purose are waiting to pick up the soldiers at the airfield, and within minutes they are on their way through the town and out along the bayside road which leads to the villa. In the villa, which was leased to the Army last Christmas, the soldiers enter an air of quiet, rest and peace. Snooker is popular, and here Corporal Bob Ellis, of Nambour, Queensland, prepares for as shot. Watching the game are Privates Vic Podesta of Sydney, and Colin Butterworth, of Moorabbin, Victoria. Tape recorded popular music is available and Corporal Allan Anderson, of Gaythorne, Brisbane, selects a new number. Outside on the balcony, under a frangipani tree, Private Allan Brandt, of Lansvale, NSW, takes advantage of the quiet to write a letter home. Not far away, on the surf beach and in a sheltered bay, soldiers relax with water sports. They waste no time getting into the surf and boards are available. On the beach, there's some attractive local scenery, and leaving the water the soldiers can refresh with fuit sold by a small Viet child. Corporal Don Patterson, of Fairfield, Sydney decides to try a sample. In the afternoons, there's water skiing behind a power boat donated to the centre by a Sydney firm, and Private Ross Hills of Lawnton, Queensland, gives a demonstration run for beginners on the placid waters of the South China sea. Driver of the ski boat is Private Ray Kitchen, of Monto Queensland. But perhaps the cool atmosphere of the old French villa's tiled first floor patio and the soothing sea breezes of Cape St. Jaques appeal to most of the soldiers after months of sweat drenched service in VIetnamese hinterland. The patio's popularity for after dinner drinks seems to make the point. As Private Ross Mills of Brisbane, and Corporal John Horwood of Sydney, enjoy their cold beer, Sapper Allan Brown, of South Perth, sums up the villa for them: "its Number One" he says - and in worn-torn Viet Nam that's just as good as anything can be.
A troupe of Australian entertainers last week took the "big beat" to Australian soldiers in Viet Nam during a three-day tour of Army bases. In the fierce tropical heat of Bien Hoa Airbase they sang, d
Australian soldiers in Viet Nam lead tough lives and [need] occassional breaks from the war and the harsh jungle terrain. The Army gives them a rest with five days of leave outside Vietnam, in Hong Ko
Constant searching and patrolling of an area south-east of the Australian Task Force base at Nui Dat, Vietnam, certainly proved the fitness of Australian troops taking part in Operation Kenmore. From
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
An Australian and two New Zealanders were among 21 people to receive awards of appreciation for their services while in Viet Nam from the South Vietnamses deputy prime Minister Cao Van Vien. The prese
The newly appointed Commander of the Australian Force, Viet Nam, Major General Vincent, recently paid his first visit to the soldiers of the 1st Australian Task Force, based at Nui Dat. Major General
