The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
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 sandhills and swamps near the coast, troops of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, quickly moved inland and found themselves confronted by dense jungle and several large hills which were thought to hide Viet Cong base camps. A tiring patrol to the summit of one of the hills did not reveal the suspected enemy camp, but gave members of the Battalion the opportunity to look back across the area they had covered on foot to the sea. From the top of the hill it was a quick move to a stream at its base, and for the first time in six days the Diggers had the opportunity to wash themselves and their clothes effectively. The stream also ensured a full supply of drinking water for the next phase of the Operation. With washing and filling of water bottles completed, some of the Diggers took the chance of completely refreshing themselves with a little "horseplay". A short time later it was back to the searching and patrolling. Many obstacles were encountered by the troops, but those which proved the most difficult and temporarily brought the Opeartion to a standstill, were the many rivers in the area. Toggle ropes joined together and carried across the rivers provided the most effective way to counter such obstacles. The first few members of 2 RAR to cross the river showed extreme caution, for to fall into the fast flowing water below while heavily laden would almost certainly have resulted in drowning. But as more of the battalion crossed, confidence increased and the crossing quickly completed. On the other side of the river - it was bcak to patrolling and searching for the Viet Cong and on with Operation Kenmore. [Identified personnel: Cpl Bob Murray, of Chermside, Brisbane; Pte Noel Jackson, of Belmont, W.A.; Pte Raph Hoger, of Mosman Park, Perth; Cpl Andy Andrews, of Petrie, Brisbane; Pte Allan Oxnam, of South Melbourne; Pte Noel Jackson, of Belmont W.A.; Pte Neil Colquhoun, of Newcastle, NSW; Cpl Ian Atkinson, of Grovely, Brisbane; Sgt Jack Mills, of Mt Gravatt, Brisbane.]
Australia's newest battalion in Vietnam, the 8th Battalion, is now in the swing of things and having marked successes against the enemy on its first major operation. Here is the first film of the batt
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