The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Today was a day of arrivals and departures for the Australian Force in Vietnam. The troop carrier HMAS Sydney, with troops of 1 RAR, anchored off Vung Tau at first light, and seven hours later was on its way back to Australia with men of the 7th Battalion. The bulk of troop movement to and from Vung Tau was carried out by HMAS Sydney's landing craft. Anchored three-quarters of a mile offshore, the Sydney aroused the interest of busy US patrol boats and numerous multi-coloured Vietnamese fishing vessels. From Vung Tau, the 1st Battalion troops were moved by vehicle to the Task Force base at Nui Dat, about 20 miles north-east. For more than 100 of the men in the battalion, their arrival today was the beginning of a second tour of duty. The advance party and the Commanding Officer of the unit, Lt Col Phil Bennet of Perth, WA, arrived several weeks ago. Visitors flown aboard the Sydney by RAAF helicopters to welcome the new battalion and farewell 7 RAR included the Australian Force Commander, Major General A. L. MacDonald, the Task Force Commander, Brigadier Ron Hughes, of Brisbane, Qld, and the Commander of the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group, Lt Col Ian Gilmore. The arrival in Vietnam of 1 RAR marks the first time since the Korean War that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment will have served together in an active service theatre. While the Sydney was approaching her berth at Vung Tau, a simple pre-dawn ceremony was enacted at Nui Dat. Before a guard of honour of 30 men, the unit flag of the 7th Battalion was lowered and replaced by the deep blue flag bearing the figure "1" of the 1st Battalion. The honour of raising 1 RAR's flag went to Sgt Don Elbourne of Yagoona, NSW. Three special signals also marked the historical occasion. The Force Commander, Maj Gen MacDonald, said in a signal to the Commanding Officer of 7th Battalion, Lt Col Eric Smith of Mt Eliza, Vic: "On the eve of your departure to Australia I wish to express my thanks and admiration for the job well done by all ranks of 7 RAR during their tour of duty in this country. No effort has been too much for your battalion, which has carried out every task given it with skill and determination. Not only has 7 RAR worthily upheld the best traditions of the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Regiment, but also, over the past year, it has added lustre to those traditions by its actions in battle. Bon voyage and the best of luck to you all." To 1st Battalion's Commanding Officer, Lt Col Bennett, General MacDonald signalled: "All members of the Australian Force Vietnam join with me in extending a welcome to your battalion. We all remember with pride the 1st Battalion's service during its previous tour in this country and we look forward with confidence to achieving even greater things during its forthcoming tour. Good hunting." The 7th Battalion sent an extremely short message to the captain of HMAS Sydney while the ship was steaming towards Vung Tau. It said: "Hurry up!" In welcoming the newly-arrived battalion to Nui Dat, Brigadier Hughes said: "Two things are needed to win battles. One is professional ability and the other is luck. You have that professional ability and now I wish you all the luck."
Men of 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment arrived at Vung Tau, recently, for the battalion's second tour of duty in South Vietnam. In 1966, during its first tour it killed 245 enemy in the b
The last of the present battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment - the 8th Battalion - has begun its year of duty in South Vietnam. Five hundred and forty of the men arrived on board the fast troop
The changeover of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, in Vietnam was completed today with the arrival at Vung Tau harbour of troops of the 9th Battalion aboard HMAS Sydney. The Sydney docked
The 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, which returns home to Australia on February 27 from Vung Tau, held a memorial parade in honour of its soldiers killed during the unit's present 12 mon
More than 500 members of the 7th Battalion arrived in South Vietnam aboard the troop-carrier, HMAS Sydney. The Sydney anchored off Vung Tau and the United States Army Chinook helicopters lifted the t
This week in Vietnam the Commander of the Australian Task Force, Brigadier Sandy Pearson, left the battlefield for a few hours to visit sick and wounded soldiers in hospital. From his field command po
